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
Warsh, like many economists, thinks the financial markets have become too dependent on Fed guidance, and that such direction is more effective in financial crises or economic downturns.
—
Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 20 June 2026
Local governments and schools, which rely heavily on property taxes, will face funding uncertainties during economic downturns.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
They’re often placed in precarious roles, squeezed out during economic downturns, or worn down by additional pressures their male peers aren’t always facing.
—Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
These liquidations can exacerbate downturns, said Ryan Rasmussen, head of research at Bitwise Asset Management.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Advance was known in the industry for a pledge that employees who weren’t in a union would have jobs regardless of economic downturns or technological advances.
—Scott Mayerowitz, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Advance was known in the industry for a pledge that employees who weren't in a union would have jobs regardless of economic downturns or technological advances.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Then again, signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract this past offseason was supposed to help prevent these extreme downturns.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Despite the later success of SoftBank’s Alibaba investment, its timing coincided with one of the largest market downturns in modern history, led largely by collapsing technology and Internet stocks.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026
Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 20 June 2026
Local governments and schools, which rely heavily on property taxes, will face funding uncertainties during economic downturns.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
They’re often placed in precarious roles, squeezed out during economic downturns, or worn down by additional pressures their male peers aren’t always facing.
—Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
These liquidations can exacerbate downturns, said Ryan Rasmussen, head of research at Bitwise Asset Management.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Advance was known in the industry for a pledge that employees who weren’t in a union would have jobs regardless of economic downturns or technological advances.
—Scott Mayerowitz, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Advance was known in the industry for a pledge that employees who weren't in a union would have jobs regardless of economic downturns or technological advances.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Then again, signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract this past offseason was supposed to help prevent these extreme downturns.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Despite the later success of SoftBank’s Alibaba investment, its timing coincided with one of the largest market downturns in modern history, led largely by collapsing technology and Internet stocks.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturns
Noun
-
Mired in one of the worst slumps of his big-league career, Swanson is going through the day-to-day grind trying to get going offensively.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
And, just like batters go into slumps, so do pitchers.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 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
-
However, this group saw meaningful decreases as well, falling from 73% in 2021 to 61% in 2025.—
Ali Swenson,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
-
The number of condos available dropped by nearly 9%, an improvement from the April year-over-year comparison, but marking the fourth consecutive month of decreases since July 2023.—
Alexandra Phelps,
Miami Herald,
18 June 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
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This is because many people tolerate the early dose reductions fairly well but struggle more near the end of the taper because the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to serotonin changes at lower doses.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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Support for older adults in poverty Benefits that many low-income older Americans rely on are facing substantial reductions.—
Naomi Cahn,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Cannabis is perishable—operators cannot stockpile inventory to smooth pricing cycles or ride out market dips.—
Peter Su,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
-
Tap the team there for everything from aesthetics to dentistry, while taking regular dips in the enormous indoor pool or guided hikes through the hills of the Black Forest.—
Todd Plummer,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Similar deteriorations took place in Tuscany and in Naples.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the attacks targeted energy infrastructure and commercial sites, causing billions of dollars of economic losses and shattering their image as a safe haven for foreign travel and investment.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
-
Bond puts increase in value when bond prices fall and interest rates rise, allowing investors to offset losses elsewhere in their portfolios if borrowing costs jump unexpectedly.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturns. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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