recessions

Definition of recessionsnext
plural of recession
1
as in slumps
a period of decreased economic activity the country is just coming out of a recession, so expect to see fewer layoffs and more new jobs in the coming year

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2
as in withdrawals
an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable a retiring CEO making a gradual recession from the daily rigors of running a major corporation

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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 recessions As a result, platinum and palladium prices may fall during recessions, while gold often rises as investors seek safety. Sharon Wu, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 Edun’s tenure has been marked by an aggressive push to overhaul sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest economy after two recessions within a decade, leading to an uptick in foreign direct investment inflows. Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026 The Case for Staying Invested The S&P 500 has never produced a negative total return over any rolling 20-year period — even through wars, oil crises and recessions. Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 22 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 The restaurants that endure here — through recessions, the pandemic and waves of rapid development — do so because customers keep walking through their doors. Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026 Energy shocks in the 1970s were associated with global recessions and persistent inflationary pressures. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026 People who have come of age since 2007 have not had that confidence—two severe recessions, one bout of inflation, and now a third recession apparently imminent and another second bout of inflation apparently imminent. David Frum, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026 These are firms that have survived recessions, world wars, colonial collapses, and technological revolutions. Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recessions
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Most of the early withdrawals stemmed from unexpected emergencies and paying off looming debt.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Later that night, she was seen in surveillance footage making withdrawals from an ATM — and hasn't been heard from since.
    Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Using the back of a tablespoon, create 4 depressions in salt mixture, spacing evenly.
    Christopher Kostow, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Recessions, depressions, wars, pandemics, political meddling, stock market crashes, regulation, and recalls have repeatedly threatened carmakers’ continued survival.
    Jamie Lincoln Kitman, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This is Fortune 500 Power Moves, a column tracking executive shifts—from appointments and promotions to resignations and retirements—within the highest ranks of Fortune 500 companies.
    Fortune Editors, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • With six weeks until the June 2 city primary election, Bass is seeking to hire 510 officers at the Los Angeles Police Department, enough to cover the retirements and resignations that are expected in that agency, according to her budget team.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Mammoth bluffs followed by last-minute retreats only deepened perceptions of inconsistency, further eroding deterrence.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Dubious precautions Mounting interest in the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs has led to a rise in psychedelic retreats around the world.
    Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Recessions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recessions. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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