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 High yield becomes a disaster when the economy is heading into a sharp economic downturn, Gallo said. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 The fund is used to convert the country’s oil wealth into diversified long-term investments that can withstand potential downturns in the oil and gas industry. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026 California’s post-pandemic revenue downturn shows how quickly state tax collections can change. — Chaewon Chung updated October 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026 For an art market that has spent much of the downturn learning the difference between demand and hype, that may be the more useful sign. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downturn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturn

Noun

When healthy, Ohtani has the ability to break out of even the most dire of slumps with an otherworldly performance, like that three-homer (as a hitter), 10-strikeout (as a pitcher) all-timer.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
In other words, even when people and businesses think ahead and act in their own interests, sticky prices can keep the economy stuck in a slump.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of slump

Noun

Each eruption caused rapid deflation of the summit of Kilauea and was followed by the relatively slow refilling of the Halemaʻumaʻu magma reservoir.

— John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026
The Bank of Japan — or BOJ — started raising interest rates in 2024, a major change after decades of ultra-low rates aimed at combating deflation.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of deflation

Noun

Illinois saw a 15 percent uptick in live-action film and TV series shooting in-state but saw spending decrease in the quarter.

— Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
The company reported net revenues of $865 million in the second quarter, a year-over-year decrease of about $65 million.

— Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of decrease

Noun

The nonprofit Stand Up for Stand Up posted a detailed breakdown of the data that outlines a 66% shrinkage in the SiriusXM Raw channel roster.

— Christina Catherine Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Some cracks might be harmless, normal shrinkage cracks, but others might indicate a serious structural issue.

— Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 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

Goddard’s diminution is part of a broader pivot at NASA as the White House redirects the space agency to put American astronauts on the moon by 2028.

— Eric Niiler, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
Around the halfway point of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Petya Trofimov — eternal grad student, moral purist, and former tutor to the once wealthy family whose diminution sits at the heart of the play — makes a speech.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminution

Noun

On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Yet their willingness to talk, listen, and imagine what had seemed impossible helped lay the groundwork for historic nuclear arms reductions.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduction

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downtrodden

downturn

downturns

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“Downturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturn. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of downturn

noun

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