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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Recent Examples of downturn
Some supporters want Hurzeler to be sacked because of the downturn, which has turned the focus on the job security of the 32-year-old German coach.
—
Andy Naylor, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of businesses in Chicago, notably in immigrant neighborhoods, are still trying to recover from a downturn in sales after being hit from all sides by intense immigration enforcement activity that swept the city in recent months.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The Backyard Produce Project began in 2009 in the midst of the economic downturn when counselors at Poway Unified campuses spoke at a community meeting about an increase in local families who were unable to afford healthy food, said Jane Radatz, the project’s co-founder.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The company pointed to the downturn in consumer confidence—which took a nosedive to a 12-year low in January, according to the Conference Board—as the culprit behind shoppers’ trepidation.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downturn
Andy Naylor, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of businesses in Chicago, notably in immigrant neighborhoods, are still trying to recover from a downturn in sales after being hit from all sides by intense immigration enforcement activity that swept the city in recent months.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The Backyard Produce Project began in 2009 in the midst of the economic downturn when counselors at Poway Unified campuses spoke at a community meeting about an increase in local families who were unable to afford healthy food, said Jane Radatz, the project’s co-founder.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The company pointed to the downturn in consumer confidence—which took a nosedive to a 12-year low in January, according to the Conference Board—as the culprit behind shoppers’ trepidation.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downturn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturn
Noun
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Ives isn’t alone in viewing the software slump as a red herring.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
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How was a young vet like Josh Jung to pull himself out of an offensive quagmire if everybody else was too focused on their own slumps and routines?—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Japan has been struggling with a pervasive sense of stagnation and disillusionment born of decades of deflation, wage stagnation, demographic decline and a creeping loss of confidence in the country’s place in the world.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
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Japan struggled for a long time with deflation and, in fact, welcomed the surge in global inflation in the earlier part of this decade.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The decrease in health care utilization isn’t just bad for patients, Muthyala said.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The decrease was mainly due to higher net financial expenses.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The theme of this winter at Trader Joe’s is shrinkage.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 Feb. 2026
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Air-dry whenever possible, or use low heat and remove while slightly damp to prevent shrinkage.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Despite his steep falloff in OT last year, Detective Capt.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
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Part of the explanation for the falloff in cinema revenue and admissions lies in the movies themselves.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Twin Cities,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Crude oil has traced out a double bottom against support of roughly $55, broke a minor red downtrend line, and is now testing the 200-day moving average.—
Todd Gordon,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
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Instead, the double feature has been saddled with less than expected revenues, from a downtrend in consumer spending decreasing Measure A outflow, deep cuts in state and federal funds, and higher housing costs, forcing reductions in services amounting to close to a quarter million dollars a year.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There may be some pressure as well on institutions to reduce tuition; and the major question is whether doing so might result in diminution of necessary instruction and training, particularly in person.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
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Of course, the early witnesses to Tongan culture were the agents of its disruption and diminution.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The city’s community housing services division saw its budget slashed to $26 million ahead of the current fiscal year, a 41% reduction.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
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The analyst is positive about ConocoPhillips achieving its 2029 free cash flow target, supported by its four major growth projects (NFE, North Field South, Port Arthur, and Willow) and $1 billion in cost reductions and margin enhancements.—
,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturn. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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