downside

noun

down·​side ˈdau̇n-ˌsīd How to pronounce downside (audio)
1
: a downward trend (as of prices)
2
: a negative aspect
the downside of fame

Examples of downside in a Sentence

He could find no downside to the car. the downside of living in the country is, of course, the long commute to work
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The downside to baby boxes Compared with other safe-haven options, the value of baby boxes is an open question. Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025 One of the biggest downsides of the card is that the 1X rate applies to general travel purchases, while many other premium cards pay elevated rates for all types of travel. David McMillin, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025 The water-resistant formula resists smudging and transferring under the eyes, without the impossible-to-remove downside of a waterproof mascara. Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 The major downside to tripling at a championships is having to put the Champagne on ice after landing your first gold medal. Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for downside

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downside was in 1905

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downside. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on downside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!