as in disadvantages
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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Recent Examples of downsides
There are signs that some downsides of the higher tariffs are starting to emerge, the IMF outlook said.
—
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
But there are downsides to specialization, burnout being the main one.
—Stan Son, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
One of the biggest downsides of the card is that the 1X rate applies to general travel purchases, while many other premium cards pay elevated rates for all types of travel.
—David McMillin, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
So there are a lot of downsides.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 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
Each decision came with immediately apparent downsides.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
The routine has worked smoothly overall, with no major downsides.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
But there are downsides to specialization, burnout being the main one.
—Stan Son, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
One of the biggest downsides of the card is that the 1X rate applies to general travel purchases, while many other premium cards pay elevated rates for all types of travel.
—David McMillin, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
So there are a lot of downsides.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 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
Each decision came with immediately apparent downsides.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
The routine has worked smoothly overall, with no major downsides.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downsides
disadvantages
Noun
-
Jeffrey Hall Professor, University of Kansas While some users report positive effects of having an AI companion, there are disadvantages and even dangers to having a relationship with one.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In her book, Marin frames her economic disadvantages as an essential part of her political education.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downsides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downsides. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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