as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success
the downside of living in the country is, of course, the long commute to work
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Recent Examples of downside
The downside is that following instructions or tutorials may feel unusually constricting.
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
While lower credit card rates may sound like good news all around, there are some potential downsides.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
There are some efforts in the state to encourage more modular building to address housing needs, said Peinemann, a fan, but there can be some downsides.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The downside of snowblowers is the expense, both for the machine itself and the maintenance and fuel that goes into it.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downside
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
While lower credit card rates may sound like good news all around, there are some potential downsides.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
There are some efforts in the state to encourage more modular building to address housing needs, said Peinemann, a fan, but there can be some downsides.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The downside of snowblowers is the expense, both for the machine itself and the maintenance and fuel that goes into it.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downside
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downside
Noun
-
Does that put you at a disadvantage in terms of the speed of it?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But having to pivot tactically in Europe competition, in which Jaissle’s team were often at a technical disadvantage, helped prepare him for his new role.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The 75-foot Dry Falls—the most popular in western North Carolina—invites travelers to walk behind it while staying mostly dry or view it from the handicap-accessible overlook.—
Trudy Haywood Saunders,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Jan. 2026
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That was a huge handicap for McNeil and Boers, who had to sign off in late afternoon in late fall and winter.—
Phil Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This alternative comes with a few drawbacks, however.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This can be a serious drawback for family offices, which are known for investing for the long term.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downside. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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