as in deflations
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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Recent Examples of downturns
Firms disproportionately shed routine jobs during economic downturns, when efficiency pressure peaks.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
For three decades, Christakis has held its ground in Tustin, a family-run restaurant that has outlasted shifting dining trends, economic downturns and a pandemic that threatened to upend everything.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
But economic downturns, budget constraints and changing leadership have long stalled those plans.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
To get that growth, investors must endure the inevitable downturns when markets slide.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
The major downturns of the past, such as the crashes of 1929, 2000 and 2008, have been caused less by external events than by business and investment internals, such as threats to economic structure — over-leveraging in the first, the dot-com crash in the second and the housing crash in the third.
—Michael Hiltzik, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Wealthy investors, major foundations, and endowments of Ivy League universities have quietly made billions using alternative asset classes that deliver long-term returns and provide insulation from public-market downturns.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In each of the two oil crises of 1973 and 1979, the world lost about 5 million barrels of oil a day, causing major global economic downturns, Fatih Birol told the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
The downturns of more than a percentage point of view share for a range of outlets.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
For three decades, Christakis has held its ground in Tustin, a family-run restaurant that has outlasted shifting dining trends, economic downturns and a pandemic that threatened to upend everything.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
But economic downturns, budget constraints and changing leadership have long stalled those plans.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
To get that growth, investors must endure the inevitable downturns when markets slide.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
The major downturns of the past, such as the crashes of 1929, 2000 and 2008, have been caused less by external events than by business and investment internals, such as threats to economic structure — over-leveraging in the first, the dot-com crash in the second and the housing crash in the third.
—Michael Hiltzik, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Wealthy investors, major foundations, and endowments of Ivy League universities have quietly made billions using alternative asset classes that deliver long-term returns and provide insulation from public-market downturns.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In each of the two oil crises of 1973 and 1979, the world lost about 5 million barrels of oil a day, causing major global economic downturns, Fatih Birol told the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
The downturns of more than a percentage point of view share for a range of outlets.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturns
Noun
-
Everybody goes through their slumps.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
-
An offense with a collective mindset can protect guys who are going through some slumps.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All of the cumulative regions the wave passes through, with all of the growth and shrinkages that occur, imprint themselves onto the wave, as do the initial and final gravitational potentials.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Property valuations can vary, and that means homeowners typically see a range of increases or decreases in their tax statements.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Most of the severe declines happened in rural areas, although urban counties like San Francisco and Los Angeles also saw decreases.—
Kristen Hwang,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Offseason price falloffs are common in all sports, and those at the top are often among the most impacted.—
Benjamin Burrows,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The system also offers the potential for major cost reductions compared to other photoreforming approaches, as the reusable acid boosts hydrogen production rates.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Advocates warn the reductions could disrupt or cancel dozens of missions spanning planetary science, astrophysics and Earth observation — areas overseen by NASA's Science Mission Directorate.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the returns on the trade haven't been as strong over time, and data on whether traders are still buying the dips amid the Middle East war is murky.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Take the seven-minute gondola lift up, then drive a plastic cart down the banked corners and dips of a mile-long luge course.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Similar deteriorations took place in Tuscany and in Naples.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Asia-Pacific markets whipsawed in volatile trading on Tuesday, with major indices flipping to losses in the morning session, as uncertainty surrounding the war weighs on investor sentiment.—
Hugh Leask,Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Researchers argue that such systems could produce far more energy per unit area than terrestrial solar farms, as orbiting panels operate without atmospheric losses or cloud cover.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturns. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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