as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success
the downside of living in the country is, of course, the long commute to work
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downside
The downside is the stellarator is more complex and expensive than the more standardized tokamak.
—
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
But for those high earners who are affected by the rule change, there are potential upsides and downsides.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Avoid sleeping on your stomach While this position can open up airways for struggling snorers, it's often associated with its potential downsides, Wermter says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The biggest downside seems to be the inequity about what the artist earns from his work.
—Roy Trakin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downside
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
But for those high earners who are affected by the rule change, there are potential upsides and downsides.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Avoid sleeping on your stomach While this position can open up airways for struggling snorers, it's often associated with its potential downsides, Wermter says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The biggest downside seems to be the inequity about what the artist earns from his work.
—Roy Trakin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downside
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downside
Noun
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Without proximity to these prestigious networks, they’re left to compete at a distinct disadvantage.—
Sarah Maokosy,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
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The bullpen goes to the Phillies, but the Dodgers will try to mitigate that disadvantage with some of their extra starters.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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EconomyFortune 500 Experts say Trump’s $100,000 fee for a talent visa is a handicap on the tech industry.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
23 Sep. 2025
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Basque producers hope for a similar breakthrough, positioning their language not as a handicap but as a marker of distinction.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Another drawback is that multitasking in remote meetings is sometimes perceived as inappropriate behavior, with some individuals explicitly associating it with being impolite.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
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Experts say women who are unsure should talk with their health care provider about their individual breast cancer risk and the potential benefits and drawbacks of different screening methods.—
Dr. Megha Gupta,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downside. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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