as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in downturn
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downbeat
Rachel Barber, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Think cheerful puppy photos for a positive mood, and more downbeat images of dogs in difficult situations for the negative.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
The market’s downbeat start to the week follows a strong run for stocks, which pushed further into record heights last week after a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Adjective
Analysts widely expected the move after private-sector reports signaled further cooling in the labor market, and the Fed’s own Beige Book delivered a downbeat assessment of the economy in November.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Think cheerful puppy photos for a positive mood, and more downbeat images of dogs in difficult situations for the negative.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Noun
In what seems like downbeat overkill, his sweet old dog’s cancer has spread, forcing him to have the animal euthanized.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
The market’s downbeat start to the week follows a strong run for stocks, which pushed further into record heights last week after a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report.
—Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downbeat
Adjective
-
Things take a turn for the whimsical when, with the help of some lightning — and later, Taffy’s tanning bed — Lisa finds a companion in an undead, Victorian-era Cole Sprouse, a hopeless romantic who communicates exclusively in grunts, and whose devotion to Lisa knows no bounds.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Jets are hopeless, with head coach Aaron Glenn pushing back on reporters weekly and owner Woody Johnson tossing his $40 million quarterback, Justin Fields, under the bus after another rough outing.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The primates are raised for at least four years before being used in trials, and breeders did not increase their populations during an investment downturn in 2023.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
5 Jan. 2026
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And if loyalty is remembered as his greatest flaw during this Giants downturn, that is as good a human legacy to have built in this very public and cutthroat business.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The shootout in the finale felt ripped from another (lesser) series, Sarah Catherine Hook’s monologue as Piper, now wanting to wash Thailand off her, just a bit of a pat cheat (and a more cynical White on display).—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
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Yes, our political leaders have given some of us reason to be resentful, cynical and even depressed.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The unexpected collapse of Technicolor triggered layoffs and production disruptions, while a broader post-pandemic slowdown has seen commissions drop nearly 30%.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Airport numbers slow to rebound in Bay Area Potential air traffic slowdowns are arriving at a delicate time for airports, some of which have yet to recover from temporary travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects since.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The modest pace of hiring, alongside a series of high-profile layoff announcements from major companies, helps explain why consumers remain pessimistic about the labor market.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Only voters in Virginia saw their state’s economy as excellent or good, while those in California, New York City and New Jersey took a more pessimistic view.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
With his brother, Josh, Benny has built a career on his fascination with these occasionally surly characters, often men on the downswing.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Oct. 2025
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Sales at Dave & Buster’s have been on the downswing for quite some time, and Lal acknowledged that the trend is continuing this quarter.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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When everything looks bleak, a woman holds it up victoriously.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
-
New York — US stocks closed lower Thursday as concerns mounted about expensive tech stocks, and a risk-off sentiment spread through markets after new data showed a bleak outlook for the job market.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In the grim depths of stagnation, in late October 1982, a group of Soviet youths gather in Tallinn and form the punk band Velikije Luki.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
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That adaptability could be the difference between stagnation and success this holiday season.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downbeat. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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