slow (down) 1 of 2

Definition of slow (down)next
as in decline
a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something disease experts are encouraged by the recent slowdown in the spread of the virus

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 slow (down)
Noun
Concerns about a possible slowdown in spending on artificial intelligence, the Federal Reserve’s resumption of rate hikes and a surge in bond yields — making borrowing more expensive — all played a factor, Renaissance said. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Anthropic’s Dario Amodei was the first American AI company CEO to call for a slowdown and national guardrails, but Altman swiftly joined the call. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026 The decision, which the Wall Street Journal first reported on Monday, comes as industry leaders call for an AI development slowdown. — Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 Recently, Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, whose chips are used by most AI companies, has emerged as one of the industry's leading voices pushing back against calls for a slowdown and urging a light regulatory approach. — Katie McQue, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slow (down)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow (down)
Verb
  • Fink said the churn weakens the tie between a worker and an employer.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other potential causes are higher rates of chronic stress, depression and anxiety, as well as autoimmune diseases, which weaken the immune system, Curhan said.
    — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • This was done three times per hill, each wall beginning where the previous one stopped but positioned to follow the direction that represents the most rapid topographical decline.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Wall Street Journal reported the exodus at the time as a 17% decline in two years.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • His power slackened in 2025 before a slight resurgence this season.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • During an El Niño, those winds slacken, and the warm water slides eastward, leading to waters becoming generally one to two degrees Celsius above normal in the area around the Galápagos.
    — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Concerns about this recent deceleration aside, a slight quarter-to-quarter boost is obviously preferable to the bundle’s comparable loss of 953,000 customers between the first and second quarters of this year.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Altman and SpaceX's Elon Musk quickly backed Amodei's push for deceleration.
    — CJ Haddad, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Your phone or password manager can flag trouble and give you a chance to deal with it.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Lewbel says that, by the end of 2026, the company's law enforcement customers will be required to use case codes for searches, with exceptions for emergencies, and a tool that flags unusual searches for agency administrators.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The latest update on consumer confidence from business group The Conference Board shows a slump in September.
    — Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Retail sales slowed further, and the urban investment slump deepened in August, while industrial output rebounded on the back of exports.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But the rain will gradually taper off, and the winds are much lighter than on Sunday.
    — Kate Bilo, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Any precipitation should taper off later Monday, though clouds may linger into the evening, making for a gray day, the weather service said.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • One play before the touchdown, Cobb made up for his earlier drop with a catch-and-run on a screen pass that went for 46 yards and moved the ball to the Kennesaw State 2.
    — Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The travel-booking company also says that travelers headed to major cities for Thanksgiving or Christmas could see a price drop for hotels in the last 24-48 hours before the holiday.
    — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slow (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow%20%28down%29. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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