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 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

Growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to multi-year lows in the second quarter, weighed down by tepid domestic demand and a prolonged real estate slump.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
The country is more vulnerable to an oil slump than many other producers, making its defense of prices and preservation of OPEC’s relevance a priority.

— Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of slump

Noun

To address some of the major concerns, such as an outdated base year and the use of wholesale price indices and single deflation for calculating inflation, the country adopted a new statistical framework in February.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Yet a real resolution of the imbalances did not come until Japan’s economic downturn in the 1990s, which brought collapsing asset prices, persistent deflation, and years of stagnation.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of deflation

Noun

Newlight also reported a 28 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions and a 22 percent decrease in carbon monoxide emissions during the voyage.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
That is a drastic decrease in public support for right-leaning competitors since 2022, when nearly three times as many candidates won their seats and the group spent thousands on over 50 Florida school board campaigns.

— Trinity Webster-Bass, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of decrease

Noun

Regularly lowering sonar tools and mechanical sensors allows operators to map shifting cavern walls, track structural shrinkage, and inspect steel casings and cement seals for fractures.

— Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
L’Oréal, the parent company of Redken and Kérastase, developed a curl classification system from a study across 22 countries, studying curl radius, shrinkage ratio, and the number of twists on a hair fiber.

— Ava Welsing-Kitcher, Allure, 24 Aug. 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

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
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

Definition of diminution

Noun

Budget static-cling options will not hit those numbers, but even a modest reduction helps when your AC is already working overtime.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Parts and designs were standardized for the Phase II plants, which are 50 MW and on track for a more than 30% reduction in construction time.

— Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 5 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 9 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of downturn

noun

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