DOWNTURN Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

downturn

noun

Definition of downturn

as in slump

a situation in which something (such as business or economic activity) decreases or becomes worse

—usually singular an economic downturn There's been a downturn in the housing market.

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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 downturn The property sector is in a prolonged downturn that could last for the better part of a generation. — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 This downturn is attributed to several anti-immigration policies, including stricter visa rules and threats to programs like Optional Practical Training. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 This downturn in the local economy was made worse by decades of austerity measures and brain drain. — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026 Fans of celebrity bald eagle Jackie are again grappling with troubling news about her health, the latest downturn in an uneven recovery since her rescue near Big Bear Lake last month. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downturn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturn

Noun

The trip to hitter-friendly Mile High City, and a matchup against the last-place team in the NL West, came at the perfect time for the Dodgers, ending a collective slump.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
While the defense overwhelmed the Dolphins’ offense, with interceptions by Deonte Banks in 1-on-1 drills and Paulson Adebo in 11-on-11, Jaxson Dart snapped out of his slump.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of slump

Noun

Dermatologists, retailers and founders are all rushing to serve glp-1 users experiencing facial deflation, laxity and shedding.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
But a trio of economists, including former IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath, insist that appreciation could worsen Chinese deflation and further reduce demand for foreign goods, exacerbating imbalances.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of deflation

Noun

Between June 15 and July 15, officials said the cameras issued an average of 2,800 violations per day, a 26% decrease.

— Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Using birdwatching and policy data from more than 2,300 counties across China, a new analysis found that areas with stricter policies enforcing solar energy development have seen decreases in bird diversity over the last 10 years.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of decrease

Noun

That added thermal control is especially important for larger ABS, ASA, nylon, and carbon-fiber prints, where stable chamber temperatures help reduce warping, shrinkage, and layer separation across the Max 4’s nearly 400mm build volume.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026
With city blocks burned to the ground, a shrinkage of affordable housing, and a spike in homelessness, the New York of the late seventies was a city in distress.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of shrinkage

Noun

The network decided to run the miniseries, originally slated to run weekly, on consecutive nights, to avoid a falloff in viewership, but also to get it all in before the ratings period.

— Anne Haley, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Post-Covid, Hollywood has whined about the falloff for MPA fare in Pan Asian territories, particularly the once-robust South Korea.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 July 2026

Definition of falloff

Noun

Those signals together confirmed that the stock's character had shifted from a sustained uptrend to a downtrend.

— Assiatou Hann, CNBC, 29 July 2026
Fundraising then may pick up for VC firms after being stuck in a downtrend since a peak of $413 billion in 2022, according to PitchBook data, though the benefits won’t be immediate and will be contingent on public market reception.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 June 2026

Definition of downtrend

Noun

But one of the most immediate and visible consequences of 1898 was the diminution of the city’s Black population.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified compensation and punitive damages for emotional distress, the temporary loss of property use and the long-term diminution of property value caused by chemical stigma.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2026

Definition of diminution

Noun

Financial test The reduction highlights the financial challenges behind the AI infrastructure boom.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
It, and three other airline stocks, were sold by Warren Buffett at a loss in the first quarter of 2020 amid a massive reduction in air travel as the COVID-19 pandemic was gaining steam.

— Alex Crippen, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of reduction

Browse Nearby Words

downtrodden

downturn

downturns

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“Downturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturn. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of downturn

noun

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