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
Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
The bleak survey results mirrored similarly downbeat readings in the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index, which fell 10 points in August to 125.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
This year, several other art-house and repertory film organizations around the country are getting in on the downbeat, among them the Paris Theater in New York City and the Music Box in Chicago.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Adjective
To put it bluntly, Alien can be downbeat material.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
The bleak survey results mirrored similarly downbeat readings in the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index, which fell 10 points in August to 125.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
This year, several other art-house and repertory film organizations around the country are getting in on the downbeat, among them the Paris Theater in New York City and the Music Box in Chicago.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downbeat
Adjective
-
All that’s left is some hopeless cringe, stunt guest stars and unfunny jokes.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
All that's left is some hopeless cringe, stunt guest stars and unfunny jokes.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And while Starbucks’ store format is expensive to upkeep, customers have become less willing to pay higher prices for its drinks since the COVID pandemic and ongoing economic downturn.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Hosiery and underwear, meanwhile, saw a large downturn in Q3—sales dropped to $80 million, down more than 22 percent year on year.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
My appetite for more Lee is low, but Harjo’s Tulsa — cynical and lively at the same time — simmers with more to say.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Certainly, the cynical have questioned if one organization is cleaning up a mess beget by another in the name of democratizing fashion, including through the proliferation of fossil-fuel materials.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The sub-indexes tracking production, new orders, raw material inventory and employment all sunk further into contraction, official data showed, pointing to a deeper manufacturing slowdown and softer demand.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The International Monetary Fund estimated economic growth in Zimbabwe is recovering following a sharp slowdown in 2024.—
Tawanda Karombo,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Director Yorgos Lanthimos says audiences have been divided on whether the film presents an optimistic or pessimistic view of the future.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Senators remain pessimistic about the chances of reaching a bipartisan deal to reopen the government despite the effects of the shutdown becoming more painful for the American people.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 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
-
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
-
While the eradication of our species might sound like a bleak ending note, Lanthimos tells EW that audiences are divided on whether the film presents a hopeful or pessimistic view of the future.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Duffy painted a bleak scene at airports if the shutdown is not ended before Thanksgiving travel.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, the chances of this happening were unlikely, given the CRB's priority of avoiding a rebound of inflation rather than stagnation.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
However, some argued that SBMM worked too well, leading to match stagnation.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downbeat. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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