downside
noun
down·side
ˈdau̇n-ˌsīd 
1
: a downward trend (as of prices)
2
: a negative aspect
the downside of fame
Synonyms
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
This card’s downside is that the bonus spending categories are much narrower (example: fast food vs. all restaurants).
—
Ian Salisbury, wsj.com, 18 Nov. 2023
The gorgeous color and easy application more than offsets the small downsides.
—Sara Gaynes Levy, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
Experts say builder-grade homes offer an excellent solution for many buyers and come with benefits and downsides like any other type of construction.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2023
In this sense, the story of seawalls and their downsides mirrors the larger story of the climate crisis.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2023
Some Hmong residents see definite downsides, noting that many porters and guides who used to lead hikes up Fansipan are out of work.
—Patrick Scott, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023
So there was little upside and some downside to countries taking the lead on their own.
—Hannah Ritchie, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023
The downside: Next week across most of the U.S., the sun will set well before many folks step foot out of the office, leaving them to run errands or take walks in utter darkness.
—Claire Savage, Fortune Well, 3 Nov. 2023
What would be the downside of changing the status quo?
Reap, the spokesperson for Bright MLS, contends that the practice of splitting commissions prevents favoritism and unfairness among agents.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
See More
Ian Salisbury, wsj.com, 18 Nov. 2023
The gorgeous color and easy application more than offsets the small downsides.
—Sara Gaynes Levy, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
Experts say builder-grade homes offer an excellent solution for many buyers and come with benefits and downsides like any other type of construction.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2023
In this sense, the story of seawalls and their downsides mirrors the larger story of the climate crisis.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2023
Some Hmong residents see definite downsides, noting that many porters and guides who used to lead hikes up Fansipan are out of work.
—Patrick Scott, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023
So there was little upside and some downside to countries taking the lead on their own.
—Hannah Ritchie, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023
The downside: Next week across most of the U.S., the sun will set well before many folks step foot out of the office, leaving them to run errands or take walks in utter darkness.
—Claire Savage, Fortune Well, 3 Nov. 2023
What would be the downside of changing the status quo?
Reap, the spokesperson for Bright MLS, contends that the practice of splitting commissions prevents favoritism and unfairness among agents.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing downside
Dictionary Entries Near downside
Cite this Entry
“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downside. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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