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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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 At the same time, Benz noted, retirees don't want a mainly stock-heavy portfolio that would mean your only option would be to sell stocks during a longer downturn. — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026 But after a prolonged downturn, there are signs things are bottoming out. — Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 In June, after Bitcoin’s downturn strained the model, Strategy created a new financial backstop. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Still, Shein’s listing is welcome news for Hong Kong, as the Chinese territory makes increasing efforts to hold onto its role as a global financial hub following a downturn in 2023. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downturn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturn

Noun

Thanks to the boom in digital check-outs, commercial markets are seeing a slump.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 2026
In the bigger picture, the concern is whether Maye’s four-game playoff slump from last season is carrying over into 2026.

— Chad Graff, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of slump

Noun

Higher energy and food prices pushed inflation up, adding to cost worries in a country that until recently was threatened with deflation.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
That means Chinese government bonds, buoyed by deflation and a vast pool of domestic savings, are offering investors a safe-haven asset.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of deflation

Noun

Scientists from the German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Space Research reported last week that Mercury’s shrinkage may be 30% greater than previously believed — a loss in diameter of as much as 14 miles.

— Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2026
The shrinkage could be even more than his team is estimating based on measurements from NASA's Messenger spacecraft in the 2010s.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of shrinkage

Noun

About half of those seasons involved dramatic falloffs in production for those players the next year.

— Michael Beller, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of falloff

Noun

Yet the club is understood not to be concerned about the delay driving a diminution in sponsorship values.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Simmons and Democrat Commissioner Roderick Miles said the diminution of polling locations creates unfair voter access.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminution

Noun

The 2026 study showed dramatic long-term reductions in indoor water use.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
At a quantum level, though, these reductions are happening in jumps, and Safavi-Naeini’s team measured them in real time, a first-of-its-kind achievement.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of downturn

noun

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