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

How To Store Pie in the Refrigerator The downside to refrigerating pies is that the texture of the crust may suffer after chilling, becoming less crisp and flaky. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

But the health benefits of drinking lemon water are many and outweigh any potential downsides (IMO). —Ana Morales, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2025

And, investors in spot bitcoin ETFs, particularly newer holders, are feeling pressure to sell their shares — a reality that could extend the asset's downside in the near term, Frank Chaparro, head of content and special projects at crypto-focused trading firm GSR, told CNBC. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025

Test out potassium salt To cut the downsides of table salt, try potassium salt. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025

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