downer

noun

down·er ˈdau̇-nər

plural downers

Synonyms of downer next

: a depressant drug

especially : barbiturate

… would often take the stage stoned on downers or high on acid … —

Peter Keough

Suppressant drugs, referred to as "downers", help create feelings of relaxation and tiredness rather than the high that people get from taking "uppers" … —

Izzy Lyons

: someone or something depressing, disagreeable, or unsatisfactory

Rain, biting insects, and soggy ground are other downers that keep me under cover.—

Norman Strung

Losing in their conference tournaments was a major downer for the NC State and East Carolina baseball teams.—

Brett Friedlander

: a weak, sick, or lame domesticated animal (such as a cow or pig) that is down and cannot get up

… the USDA last week instituted a series of measures to reassure consumers that American beef is safe, including a ban on the slaughter of cattle too sick or injured to walk, called downers, for human food.—

Cathy Booth Thomas

—often used before another noun

a downer cow

Examples of downer in a Sentence

I took some downers to help me sleep. “His cat just died.” “Oh, that's a real downer.” Our conversation about death was a bit of a downer.

Recent Examples on the Web Was this one too much of a downer to make the cut for Fearless? —

TIME, 25 Oct. 2023 For Tesla investors, that admission is a major downer. —

Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023 Working With a Debbie Downer My colleague at work is a real downer. —

Roxane Gay, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023 That’s perfect for those who appreciate a fall chill, but a downer for those who’d like summer to hang on. —

Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023 The plan was simple: Book back-to-back tickets for Christopher Nolan’s three-hour downer and Greta Gerwig’s cotton-candy-colored confection. —

David Viramontes, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2023 The emerging medical consensus around alcohol is likely to come as a downer for drinkers. —

The Week Staff, The Week, 19 Mar. 2023 At least temperatures are reasonably comfortable, but the general lack of sunshine is a downer. —

Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2023 While allergies can be a major downer for both pet and owner alike, there is some relief on the horizon. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.