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.
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 downturns
Frey adds that society’s resistance to automation tends to coincide with economic downturns, like during the Great Depression, or recessions in the 1960s.
—
Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
Over time, the company also began placing greater emphasis on professional contractors, recognizing that these customers represented a consistent source of demand, even during economic downturns.
—Alexandria Mansfield, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Ahead, the inevitable downturns will tell us more about Stammen.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
People who have already retired may want to cut back on spending and withdrawals after sharp market downturns, because bigger withdrawals will remove more potential compounding ability in the future.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
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
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
Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
Over time, the company also began placing greater emphasis on professional contractors, recognizing that these customers represented a consistent source of demand, even during economic downturns.
—Alexandria Mansfield, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Ahead, the inevitable downturns will tell us more about Stammen.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
People who have already retired may want to cut back on spending and withdrawals after sharp market downturns, because bigger withdrawals will remove more potential compounding ability in the future.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturns
Noun
-
Grier credited Warsofsky for helping to get the Sharks’ season back on track after at least three extended slumps.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
His season has been a rollercoaster at times, interrupted by injuries and shooting slumps and the overall adjustment process to playing in Jokic’s orbit.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 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
-
All 39 have recorded enrollment decreases, based on an analysis by the California Department of Education.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
With fewer dense air molecules in the path of a moving baseball, aerodynamic drag decreases and the ball can carry marginally farther.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
16 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 Health Commission will not be voting on the DPH budget or staff reductions reviewed in this meeting because the Commission already approved the FY26-28 DPH budget at its March 2, 2026 meeting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Perseverance rover, which is on Mars collecting rock and soil samples, could face spending reductions.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The first addition of the Gophers men’s basketball program’s transfer portal class double dips as a homecoming.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Its size is particularly noticeable on sea days, and better for quick dips than doing laps.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Similar deteriorations took place in Tuscany and in Naples.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Good Jobs First report recommends that all states fully report their losses from data center tax breaks, including how those incentives affect local revenue streams.—
Kevin Hardy,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Despite dynamite starts from Taj Bradley and Bailey Ober on Saturday and Sunday, the Twins’ relievers blew saves on consecutive days, leading to backbreaking losses.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturns. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
