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 Historically, these institutions have better withstood economic downturns, helping ensure a steady influx of new tenants and a stable employment base. — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 The bondhouse reaffirmed its BBB- rating, writing that Duncaster had lifted its performance since a downturn during the pandemic. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026 One roundtable focused on the need for France and Italy to join forces to protect their manufacturing sectors, under threat from cheap imports from China, and weakened by the downturn in luxury sales and supply-chain scandals. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 Many housing advocates and lawmakers say a major cause of that downturn is a complex law from 2002 that has led to frequent and expensive lawsuits from condo owners. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of downturn

noun

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