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
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
He’s obsessed with positioning Putin as the kind of strongman who ordinary Russians want to lead them out of financial downturns and corruption crises.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
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
He’s obsessed with positioning Putin as the kind of strongman who ordinary Russians want to lead them out of financial downturns and corruption crises.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturns
Noun
-
And, just like batters go into slumps, so do pitchers.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Pairing coffee with food slows absorption and helps avoid the energy slumps that drive people to reach for more.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
11 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
-
Following significant reforms in 2022 and 2023, 18 new carriers have entered the market, and dozens have filed for rate decreases, some by double digits.—
Chuck Bonfiglio,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
At the Ada County budget presentation, Koberg reminded people that even as river flow decreases, officials will be waiting on warmer temperatures and debris mitigation before the float season is underway.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
12 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
-
While a dollar or two may not seem dramatic at first glance, these kinds of reductions can add up quickly for Costco members who regularly purchase staple items, and that is a win worth celebrating.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
-
The leadership team aimed to protect the product roadmap and innovation capacity, while directing most reductions to G&A, sales and marketing, and corporate functions.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
15 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
-
That stint came to an end in April, though, following friendly losses to Egypt and Serbia.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
That has gotten him through all of the losses.—
Spencer Nusbaum,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturns. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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