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
Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
There has been a void in downbeat Americana ever since Vic Chesnutt ended his life in 2009.
—David Harris, SPIN, 21 Apr. 2026
Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 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
In addition to its optimistic baseline projection, the IMF issued a downbeat prediction in the event of a more severe disruption of oil markets that stretches into next year.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
There has been a void in downbeat Americana ever since Vic Chesnutt ended his life in 2009.
—David Harris, SPIN, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
What seems at first like the downbeat eventually dissolves into the track’s spongy matrix of pulses and offbeat accents.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 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
-
Written and directed by Barker, Obsession centers on a music store employee named Bear (Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic who has fallen for a co-worker named Nikki (Inde Navarrette).—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
-
Cowboys fans and hopeless romantics alike have the Cavinder Twins to thank for that.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Hanging over the upcoming negotiations are memories of the disastrous 1994 labor stoppage that canceled the World Series, leading to a yearslong downturn in attendance and enthusiasm.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
-
Furniture — and luxury furniture in particular — became an unnecessary luxury during the subsequent economic downturn that hit the continent.—
Axel Söderberg,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Moreover, if Griffin stepped into public life now, the cynical wags in finance would declare the reason obvious—his hedge fund’s returns have been sagging.—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Americans become even more cynical and polarized.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Kansas City businesses are reporting a mix of booming sales and unexpected slowdowns as FIFA World Cup fans flood the city.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
In theory, a resilient labor market could afford central bankers leeway to raise interest rates in an effort to dial back inflation, since elevated borrowing costs risk a hiring slowdown.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is not a pessimistic observation.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
During the first two weeks after the election, the campaign encouraged voters to check their ballot status online, but supporters grew increasingly pessimistic as the count progressed.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Her past several albums did not reach the same heights as her biggest releases, and the story around Perry shifted from world-conquering hitmaker to a star on the downswing – one whose latest singles and albums all underperformed, and things weren’t looking up.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
The Lions moved on from veteran offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, a once-reliable player on the downswing of his career, who struggled at center last season.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Their pursuit leads them down a highly unusual path with no easy answers, and Bong masterfully balances tonal shifts from bleak tragedy to absurdist humor to highlight why the case remains so compelling.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
The picture looks much bleaker for the president now.—
Linley Sanders,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Change the water in the container every few days to prevent stagnation and ensure that the cuttings have a constant supply of oxygen.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
15 June 2026
-
Economists expect data for May will affirm broad stagnation.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downbeat. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
