DESCENT Synonyms: 262 Similar and Opposite Words

descent

noun

di-ˈsent

Definition of descent

as in drop

the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field

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Relevance

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as in deterioration

a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body the family patriarch's heartbreaking descent into infirmity and senility

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as in degradation

a change to a lower state or level the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution

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as in demise

a loss of status for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans

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as in invasion

a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory the lightning descent of the invading army on that unsuspecting border town

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as in assault

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence the descent of the voracious locusts on the wheat fields

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as in ancestry

the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended a person of Finnish descent

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as in downhill

a downward slope on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of descent On August 26, Meghan, Prince Harry, and their two children made their descent into Birmingham Airport. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026 More recently, in February 2024, The New Yorker profiled an American academic, Elizabeth Hoover, who had claimed Mohawk and Mi’kmaq descent and apologized for it under duress but continues to teach. — Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Throw in a dash of bodily horror, and suddenly Hig’s descent into a pit of obvious-from-space disaster becomes the film’s most interesting sequence, with all the good and bad that interesting entails. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026 Jusu Bah, of Sierra Leonean descent, joined from Swedish rivals Umea in 2023 and has become an important part of Hacken’s side. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for descent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent

Noun

The surprise drop kicked off a 60-day countdown for the re-issue.

— Caché McClay, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Smooth it through damp hair before styling or use a few drops on dry lengths for an extra hit of shine and polish.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of drop

Noun

The City is aware of deterioration to the pavers surrounding the memorial related to the seawall conditions in this section of the Riverwalk.

— Bri Buckley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
The deterioration in DeepMind’s talent flows coincided with the lab tightening its publication rules, Hurd said, something that Zeki researchers say may have weakened one of the lab’s most important draws for research-minded staff.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of deterioration

Noun

The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.

— Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
The Syrian civil war that began during that period eventually saw the demise of the Assad regime – Hafez’s son Bashar had continued his father’s hard-line legacy after coming to power in 2000.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of demise

Noun

Bessent's remarks came as Siluanov's first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 drew objections from other European leaders.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Hate him, despise him, be jealous of his wealth, but support his efforts to destroy Iran and hopefully end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of invasion

Noun

He has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, the department said.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Castro is charged in Minnesota with assault and falsely reporting a crime in the January 14 shooting of 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

According to Census data taken between 2019 and 2023, the number of residents of Italian ancestry in Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront District was down 25 percent over the previous 13 years.

— Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
But Shanes questioned whether grouping Jews under a single ethnic category would produce sufficiently specific data for those purposes, or instead obscure differences among Jewish populations with distinct ancestries.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancestry

Noun

Allen is a solid downhill, change-of-pace runner who can be used in short-yardage situations.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
The Picklejus aims for the complete package in mountain running, tackling not just distances greater than 100 miles but also the dramatic uphills and downhills that may come along the way.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026