downturn

noun

Definition of downturnnext
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
  1. slump
  2. deflation
  3. decrease
  4. shrinkage
  5. falloff
  6. downtrend
  7. diminution
  8. reduction
Noun
  • Bumble and competitor Tinder, owned by Match Group, have reported consecutive declining rates of paying users, revenue and stock slumps in recent years.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Short sellers betting against SpaceX are rapidly retreating from the trade, just as the newly public stock rebounds from its post-IPO slump.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 12 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
  • Most towns saw a decrease in Democratic turnout compared to 2018, but towns with competitive Congressional or state Democratic primaries were more likely to see an increase.
    — Angela Eichhorst, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Despite police data that shows a sustained decrease in CTA crime, the agency continues to take heat on safety.
    — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • 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
  • The first of the Virginia-class SSGNs are not scheduled to join the fleet until 2029, so the Navy is likely to see a shrinkage in its missile strike capabilities in the meantime.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 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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Cite this Entry

“Downturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturn. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of downturn for Spanish Speakers

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