Synonyms of falling

falling 1 of 3

adjective

as in dangling

Related Words

• dangling
• suspended
• sinking
• pendent
• dipping
• descending
• floppy
• slumping
• declining
• bowing
• declined
• hanging
• sagging
• limp
• nodding
• hung
• weeping
• drooping
• bowed
• stooping
• inclining
• pendulous
• descendant
• droopy

Dissimilar Words

• upright
• rigid
• erect
• stiff
• elevated
• unbending
• inflexible
• raised
• upraised

falling

2 of 3

noun

as in weakening

Related Words

• weakening
• decay
• decline
• deterioration
• degradation
• devaluation
• downfall
• ebbing
• degeneration
• declination
• decaying
• degeneracy
• decadence
• downgrade
• relapse
• declension
• descent
• lapse
• backslide
• regression
• reversion
• retrogression
• regress

Dissimilar Words

• growth
• progress
• development
• evolution
• expansion
• progression
• improvement
• elaboration
• advancement
• perfection
• maturing
• betterment
• refinement
• maturation
• incubation
• ripening

falling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of fall

1

as in stumbling

to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stumbling
• slipping
• tripping
• tumbling
• toppling
• collapsing
• sliding
• crashing
• skidding
• dropping
• plunging
• plopping
• plummeting
• crumpling
• precipitating
• plunking
• slumping (over)
• wiping out
• free-falling
• keeling
• flumping
• nose-diving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rising
• standing (up)
• uprising
• getting up

2

as in succumbing

to yield to the control or power of enemy forces

the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• succumbing
• surrendering
• submitting
• collapsing
• capitulating
• bowing
• giving (in)
• giving up
• buckling
• knuckling under
• relinquishing
• losing
• caving (in)
• conceding
• folding
• failing
• handing over

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• standing
• fighting
• enduring
• opposing
• resisting
• withstanding
• winning
• overcoming
• beating
• defying
• prevailing
• bucking
• repelling
• conquering
• triumphing

3

as in plunging

to go to a lower level especially abruptly

word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plunging
• tumbling
• declining
• dipping
• dropping
• plummeting
• sinking
• descending
• skidding
• crashing
• decreasing
• lowering
• diving
• cratering
• retreating
• nose-diving
• diminishing
• subsiding
• drooping
• dying (down)
• dwindling
• waning
• ebbing
• lessening
• moderating
• receding
• tapering off
• abating
• letting up
• de-escalating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rising
• ascending
• arising
• lifting
• soaring
• mounting
• increasing
• growing
• building
• spiking
• expanding
• swelling
• accumulating
• escalating
• intensifying
• upping
• enlarging
• burgeoning
• picking up
• mushrooming
• snowballing
• waxing
• ballooning

4

as in decreasing

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decreasing
• diminishing
• subsiding
• declining
• vanishing
• shrinking
• easing
• ebbing
• receding
• lowering
• dwindling
• waning
• dropping (off)
• tapering
• falling away
• dying (away or down or out)
• weakening
• evaporating
• moderating
• lessening
• draining (away)
• tapering off
• relenting
• ratcheting (down)
• collapsing
• remitting
• racheting (down)
• letting up
• abating
• palling
• phasing down
• compressing
• contracting
• melting (away)
• condensing
• de-escalating
• fading (away)
• sinking
• alleviating
• constricting
• slackening
• slowing (down)
• relaxing
• giving out
• tailing (off)
• frittering (away)
• petering (out)
• flagging
• deflating
• caving (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rising
• increasing
• growing
• building
• expanding
• soaring
• mounting
• swelling
• accumulating
• escalating
• intensifying
• enlarging
• emerging
• burgeoning
• appearing
• picking up
• mushrooming
• snowballing
• waxing
• ballooning
• showing up
• lengthening
• blowing up
• elongating
• distending

5

as in descending

to lead or extend downward

the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plunging
• descending
• sinking
• dropping
• sloping
• leaning
• declining
• dipping
• tilting
• angling
• slanting
• tipping
• inclining
• reclining
• listing
• cocking
• heeling
• canting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rising
• ascending
• climbing
• arising
• mounting
• uprising
• evening
• upturning
• upsweeping
• flattening
• straightening
• smoothing
• planing
• leveling

6

as in losing

to undergo defeat

not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• losing
• faltering
• throwing
• bowing out
• missing
• taking the count
• collapsing
• failing
• flopping
• forfeiting
• cracking (up)
• striking out
• flunking
• tanking
• folding
• foundering
• washing out
• bombing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevailing
• winning
• conquering
• succeeding
• triumphing
• flourishing
• thriving
• prospering

7

as in wandering

to commit an offense

even saints can fall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wandering
• trespassing
• straying
• sinning
• offending
• transgressing
• erring
• breaking the law
• violating
• falling from grace
• breaching
• breaking
• lapsing
• infringing
• backsliding
• messing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• justifying
• forgiving
• pardoning
• regretting
• repenting
• ruing

8

as in dying

to stop living

if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dying
• perishing
• succumbing
• disappearing
• departing
• ending
• going
• expiring
• exiting
• fading
• dropping
• passing (on)
• checking out
• passing away
• buying it
• parting
• stepping out
• popping off
• kicking off
• croaking
• kicking in
• deceasing
• demising
• flatlining
• pegging out
• snuffing it
• giving up the ghost
• failing
• kicking the bucket
• biting the dust
• conking (out)
• consuming
• drying up
• predeceasing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• living
• breathing
• coming to
• being
• reviving
• lingering
• existing
• flourishing
• subsisting
• thriving
• prospering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of falling

Noun

The pair had a dramatic falling out but have since reconciled. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Yes, the two men reportedly had a falling out that would keep Harry from the game. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 June 2026

Garnett, who had a falling out with previous owner Glen Taylor after his career was over, reached an agreement last year with the team to serve as an ambassador. — CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026

The Athletic reported in August that the 47-year-old did not see eye to eye with Forest’s then-head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and there was a falling out that would become the catalyst for the Portuguese coach to leave the club. — David Ornstein, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026

Perez had a falling out with DeSantis last year over immigration laws and an investigation into the first lady’s favorite charity, Hope Florida. — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026

The chimney partially collapsed, with brick falling on the inside. — Chris Higgins updated January 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026

The school might be dissatisfied with the team’s performance, believe the players no longer listen to the coach, or maybe there’s a falling out between the coach and the athletic director. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Nov. 2025

Perhaps the most recent and high-profile is the infamous falling out between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the British Royal Family. — Barry Levitt, Time, 16 Sep. 2025

Verb

People have moved so aggressively along the learning curve that those challenges are falling by the wayside. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Paired with an all-leather ensemble, pants and pointed-toe pumps included, the hair screamed ’80s rom-com star, the curls falling toward her face in a single swift motion. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026

The beach itself is worth venturing to even for a day visit, but staying on this peaceful, postcard-perfect cove had me—pardon the nautical pun— falling hook, line, and sinker for Milos. — Callie Thorpe, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

The island's chinstrap population has been falling at a rate of 7% per year. — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

But the path from technical capability to widespread adoption will depend heavily on falling robot costs, improvements in physical capabilities, regulation, and whether people actually want robots doing certain kinds of work. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

In the last World Cup, Messi went close to another title, falling just short after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

While population growth has long been a tailwind for growth and creditworthiness, falling fertility rates and unprecedented speed of changing age structures are now changing that picture, Moody’s writes. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026

McGuire said the country’s murder rate is at a 126-year low and argued that falling fentanyl deaths and drug trafficking are evidence that the administration’s border and law enforcement policies are working. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026