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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 Some of the downturn has coincided with his absence, with his last game being on June 9. — AJC.com, 15 July 2026 For those who have joined the workforce since the Great Recession, an economic downturn that lasted from late 2007 until mid-2009, financial insecurity has largely defined their economic experiences. — Kirk McClure, Fortune, 14 July 2026 Cuba’s tourism never recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and was already in crisis amid the severe economic downturn in recent years. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 Although the Tigers’ pitching development in the minor leagues has taken a downturn with injuries and underperformance over the past year, Flukey seems like a strong candidate to become a more potent monster on the mound with a few subtle tweaks. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 12 July 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
  • The comments followed lackluster second quarter financials with execs on the defensive as analysts grilled the company on what Wall Street perceives as a bit of a slump.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 July 2026
  • The slump in office leasing also unleashed waves of slumping values, failed property loans and even foreclosures of delinquent mortgages.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
Definition of slump
Noun
  • On the contrary, in Japan’s case, low interest rates have reflected low money growth, weak economic activity and near deflation over many years.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 20 July 2026
  • The bill would also require rules governing use of tire-deflation devices to immobilize street takeover cars without causing tire blowouts.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
Definition of deflation
Noun
  • Within the goods category, gasoline tumbled 12%, accounting for about two-thirds of the monthly decrease.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • While this natural decrease is not unique to Florida, its social, economic and demographic impacts may be more pronounced if the state is no longer a migrant magnet.
    — Matt Brooks, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • Sisters with lower blood folate (vitamin B9) levels tended to show greater brain shrinkage and weaker cognitive performance, particularly when their homocysteine levels were elevated.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • Sisters with lower blood folate, or vitamin B9, tended to show greater brain shrinkage and weaker cognitive performance than those with higher levels.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of shrinkage
Noun
  • The Padres have good reason to believe that Machado, Tatis and Merrill will show significant gains over the next four months, with Bogaerts looking to weather a recent one-month falloff.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2026
  • The decline started with the surge of charter schools more than 20 years ago, but officials now also attribute the falloff to dwindling birth rates, the growth of private school vouchers and immigration issues.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026
Definition of falloff
Noun
  • But the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite was able to buck the downtrend as traders bet recently volatility around memory stocks didn't signal fundamental trouble.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 9 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
  • There has been a reduction in the wage budget, too, with big earners Gordon, Tonali and Kieran Trippier replaced by younger players on more modest salaries, including Ewen Jaouen, Sean Steur and Bazoumana Toure.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • The company says the software maintains more than 99% classification accuracy despite the dramatic reduction.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
Definition of reduction

Browse Nearby Words

downtrodden
downturn
downturns
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturn. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on downturn

Nglish: Translation of downturn for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All