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
In early March, the CEO of a major studio soundstage operator indicated that a few markets that had been seen as up-and-coming production players were now starting to experience some film and TV downturns.
—
Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Unlike gold, neither platinum nor palladium is considered a reliable safe-haven asset during economic downturns.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Industry associations frame the career as one with enviable job security, given the ever-increasing need for nurses that supersedes economic downturns.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
L’Oreal, which operates in an industry adjacent to both consumer goods and luxury, has proven to be resilient to macroeconomic challenges and general sector downturns.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
The gap in median home values leads to significant differences in family wealth, which in turn affects retirement savings, the ability to pay for college and the financial cushion available during economic downturns.
—Grigoris Argeros, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
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
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
Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Unlike gold, neither platinum nor palladium is considered a reliable safe-haven asset during economic downturns.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Industry associations frame the career as one with enviable job security, given the ever-increasing need for nurses that supersedes economic downturns.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
L’Oreal, which operates in an industry adjacent to both consumer goods and luxury, has proven to be resilient to macroeconomic challenges and general sector downturns.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
The gap in median home values leads to significant differences in family wealth, which in turn affects retirement savings, the ability to pay for college and the financial cushion available during economic downturns.
—Grigoris Argeros, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturns
Noun
-
When managing a schedule of roughly 60 games, there isn’t time to be patient or let hitters work through slumps.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Some of it can be attributed to luck, and some to facing teams in the midst of horrific slumps, such as the New York Mets and Phillies.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 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
-
Even if policy changes or negotiations are successful, Schieldrop said that seeing significant decreases in prices is likely still a long time coming.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
4 May 2026
-
All 39 have recorded enrollment decreases, based on an analysis by the California Department of Education.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 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
-
Further reductions in homelessness will help balance our budget.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
While many observers expect layoffs to help the company reach that target, executives have maintained that back-office efficiencies and the deployment of technology, rather than headcount reductions, will be the drivers.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
While many media streaming sticks can work to some extent when plugged into a TV's USB port, their performance isn’t reliable and can be prone to crashes and reboots due to power dips.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The product design for the pull-on skinny and flare denim sought to tackle frequent fit issues women have with jeans—such as waist gaps and hip dips—with waist-smoothing paneling and padding and contour seaming to lift and round wearers’ hips.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Similar deteriorations took place in Tuscany and in Naples.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
America’s chronic inability to get enough sleep comes with a real cost attached, one that researchers have put in the hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic losses.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
-
Due to impacts from federal government cuts to Medi-Cal, the Board of Supervisors put a measure on the June 2 ballot, a half-cent sales tax to raise about $1 billion to stop-gap financial losses and keep hospitals and clinics functioning.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturns. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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