1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

downhill 1 of 3

adjective

ˈdau̇n-ˌhil How to pronounce downhill (audio)
Definition of downhillnext
as in easy
involving minimal difficulty or effort the project should be all downhill after this problem is fixed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

downhill

2 of 3

noun

ˈdau̇n-ˌhil How to pronounce downhill (audio)
as in dip
a downward slope most runners will have their best splits on the downhills

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

downhill

3 of 3

adverb

as in down

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 downhill
Adjective
During summer, adrenaline junkies can get their fix on the downhill mountain biking trails and extensive zip line course. — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026 The game seemed to get easier for Essengue in the second half, forcing two turnovers and four blocks while drawing free throws with his downhill movement. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Noun
Still one of the hottest downhill destination in the Europe right now? — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026 On a loose downhill section or a trail with sudden turns, stronger and more consistent braking can make the bike feel more predictable for the rider. — New Atlas, 23 June 2026
Adverb
Letuli plays with good instincts and arrives with force downhill, but NFL teams increasingly demand linebackers who can stay on the field in passing situations. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2026 On steep slopes, this mechanism also lets the ball control its downhill speed by simply angling the pendulum uphill. — IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downhill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downhill
  1. easy
  2. dip
  3. down
  4. smooth
  5. descent
  6. downward
  7. simple
  8. decline
Adjective
  • The company says its approach is intended to make adoption easier because manufacturers would not necessarily need to redesign their existing production infrastructure to use the material.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • One of the easiest mistakes leaders make is assuming that someone who argues back is overly confident.
    — Michel Koopman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of easy
Noun
  • And this creamy dip comes together with cream, mayonnaise, chunks of crabmeat, and gets the perfect spicy punch from Old Bay seasoning.
    — Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Drolet sees opportunities to use them in dips and even pasta sauce — like swapping out heavy cream for the Mike’s Hot Honey cream cheese in a Bolognese.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of dip
Adverb
  • Between 26 and 35 vessels per day have transited this week, down from the 35 to 40 daily average of the prior eight weeks, according to Dimitris Ampatzidis, maritime risk and compliance manager at Kpler.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Larsen, a wide receiver and safety, delivered with an impressive 10-yard touchdown catch on fourth down in the left corner of the end zone to cut the deficit to 14-9 in the fourth.
    — Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of down
Adjective
  • Defensively, Lombard has looked more than capable, displaying a strong arm, good range and smooth actions.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The boots were otherwise stripped back, with smooth black uppers and a shaft that seemed to climb up to knee-length.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of smooth
Noun
  • But the object was at least another seven meters (23 feet) below him, and a deeper descent was too much of a risk for his inexperienced students.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The variant then spread into other populations, including people of African American, Indigenous American, and Acadian and French Canadian descent, particularly after the Civil War.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of descent
Adverb
  • Though capacity has remained fairly strong throughout its run, grosses have begun to trend downward over the past two years.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Yet, since 1999, when the pest control programs started, state funding has trended downward, state figures show.
    — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of downward
Adjective
  • Underpinning this assessment is the fact that disagreements between the two nations have gradually expanded beyond simple tariff disputes.
    — , CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In simple terms, cherry juice targets the muscle inflammation caused by exercise, known as oxidative stress.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of simple
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the share of China’s car market that is occupied by foreign brands is in steep decline.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
  • That damage can affect circulation and increase the risk of stroke and other changes associated with cognitive decline.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

downheartedness
downhill
downhills
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downhill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downhill. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aggrandize

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All