as in deceleration
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something
there are promising indications of a turnaround in the prolonged economic downshift
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Recent Examples of downshift
In 2025, employment in the state was virtually flat, representing a major downshift from previous years, when the state added jobs at an average of around 2%.
—
Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
As the 11-year cycle downshifts from solar maximum to solar minimum, the lights will begin to diminish in frequency and intensity.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
In an awards season filled with human suffering, the premise is a refreshing downshift.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
That’s a big downshift from the first four months of the year, when job creation averaged 123,000, not to mention the 168,000 per month in 2024 and 216,000 in 2023.
—Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downshift
Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
As the 11-year cycle downshifts from solar maximum to solar minimum, the lights will begin to diminish in frequency and intensity.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
In an awards season filled with human suffering, the premise is a refreshing downshift.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
That’s a big downshift from the first four months of the year, when job creation averaged 123,000, not to mention the 168,000 per month in 2024 and 216,000 in 2023.
—Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downshift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downshift
Noun
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Lloyd did two-leg squatting, single-leg squatting, jumping, running, cutting and deceleration exercises in a three-dimensional motion capture lab that identified where Lloyd was placing stress during those activities.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
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Zscaler lost two key salespeople, and the deceleration is palpable.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
Noun
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The findings indicate that bird-watching and similar hobbies may support overall brain health, though researchers stop short of saying the activity definitively halts cognitive decline.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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Earlier this year, a judge ordered the Bureau of Land Management to close roughly 2,000 miles of off highway vehicle trails in the western Mojave to reduce ongoing harm to the endangered desert tortoise, a keystone species of the local ecosystem whose numbers are in steep decline.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Mix one drop of castile soap with 16 ounces of warm water in a spray bottle.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
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Retailers face challenges from SNAP cuts and consumer fatigue, needing to demonstrate value as price drops will be delayed for months.—
Phil Lempert,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
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This sorts the power and braking between all four wheels in a fraction of a second to maximize the car’s agility.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 June 2026
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Ease off the accelerator gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Last year, however, marked another slowdown, which experts largely attributed to a decline in international migration.—
Ignacio Calderon,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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An attempt to ease zoning and permitting rules Many housing experts point to local zoning and red tape as the root of the slowdown in homebuilding.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Noun
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The Everrati's left pedal operates pads on discs in the normal fashion, but the motors also give powerful regenerative retardation when the accelerator is lifted.—
Mike Duff,
Car and Driver,
18 June 2021
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The policy of retardation of submarine technology ended right after the beginning of the Anglo-German naval race (marked by the German Naval Laws of 1898 and 1900).—
chicagotribune.com,
chicagotribune.com,
28 July 2017
Noun
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In addition, Nike has reported a sales slump in China , or a market that once served as a considerable driver of its growth.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
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This market slump wasn't isolated, affecting Korean and European firms as well.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downshift. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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