as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in downturn
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of downbeat
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
In bringing Camille and Issei to life, the two actors have helped build a world that’s worth the return trip, even one that’s a little less exciting and more downbeat than the maiden voyage.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Steve Holland, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
There’s precedent — both in the U.S. and internationally — to suggest these downbeat forecasts aren’t hyperbole.
—Greg Iacurci,jessica Dickler, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Adjective
But the downbeat mood also seemed to reflect the lackluster indie-film business that’s been dogging the festival for years.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
In bringing Camille and Issei to life, the two actors have helped build a world that’s worth the return trip, even one that’s a little less exciting and more downbeat than the maiden voyage.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
Trump has frequently criticized both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy but seemed more downbeat once again on the Ukrainian president.
—Steve Holland, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
There’s precedent — both in the U.S. and internationally — to suggest these downbeat forecasts aren’t hyperbole.
—Greg Iacurci,jessica Dickler, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downbeat
Adjective
-
During that stretch, Davis has waffled between hopeless and hopeful on a weekly basis.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
After a while, a group of hopeless employees – sent to a training program – wreaks havoc on each one of them.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Finland’s tourism industry hit a record high in 2025, marking a strong rebound from the pandemic-era downturn.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The downturn in the president's job approval is largely attributable to souring opinions about the state of the nation's economy and the progression of the United States' joint war on Iran, according to the outlet.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Wally, too cynical to apprentice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Season 3 premiere is no different, plunging viewers back into Sam Levinson‘s provocative story about young people searching for meaning and connection in a chaotic, often cynical, world.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But if the same conditions persist for the whole year, home sale numbers are more likely to decline compared to 2025, a significant signal pointing to an economic slowdown.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The camera can rattle off hundreds of JPG images at 10fps with no slowdown, but is limited to about 35 Raw images before the capture rate slows, a sign that the camera's buffer memory is full.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Horowitz, for his part, is not pessimistic about where this lands.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Yet Kang is pessimistic that users will actually adopt adequate security practices given rabid AI adoption.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After a little early-2000s time on a downswing, the combo of a pink, translucent base and white tips has become a beautiful no-brainer for so many of us.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That group had known nothing but playing into February until the 6-11 downswing last season.—
Sam McDowell
Updated March 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s partly because their bleak ending feels like a foregone conclusion from the start, even as Levinson’s frequently funny script crackles with comic depravity.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
-
While the subject matter is bleak, Almodóvar balances the darkness with a tenderness and sensitivity that comes from a career of exploring women's lives at their most intimate.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To avoid stagnation, be sure to accept new perspectives within your friend group — or at least hear them out!—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, has campaigned relentlessly against corruption and Hungary’s economic stagnation.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downbeat. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
