downside

noun

down·​side ˈdau̇n-ˌsīd 

1

: a downward trend (as of prices)

2

: a negative aspect

the downside of fame

Synonyms of downside

• disadvantage
• handicap
• drawback

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

And yet there’s a downside when needs become fungible, and easily recast as preferences. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026

Oh nooo, the downside of this game of relationships and trust! — Alice Burton, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

The public took the downside on one deal and wrote itself out of the upside on the other. — Mariana Mazzucato, Time, 29 Oct. 2026

However, its popularity comes with downsides — the neighborhood is often overrun by trick-or-treaters early in the evening, with crowds lasting well into the night. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing downside

• on the downside

Rhymes for downside

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied