slowdown 1 of 2

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slow (down)

2 of 2

verb

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)
Verb
Leaders across the industry are fighting to combat a global luxury slowdown and searching for new ways to maintain relevancy, reinvigorate their relationships with shoppers, while improving their bottom line. Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025 Baker sees the big-box retailer as a potential beneficiary of a slowdown in the labor market and consumer spending. Frank Holland, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025 The delays came on the heels of slowdowns at airports in Denver; Phoenix; Burbank, California; and Newark, New Jersey, that the FAA reported during the first 24 hours that air traffic controllers began working without pay because of the shutdown. Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025 Scenes include workers organizing a slowdown, sabotaging machinery and going on strike. Kathy M. Newman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slow (down)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow (down)
Noun
  • According to Hanke, Milei’s big loss in the Buenos Aires contest and the acceleration in the peso’s decline confirmed the Money Doctor’s warning that the inevitable lure for mismanaging the peso was Milei’s Achilles’ heel.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • But Burke expects that public schools will see dramatic enrollment declines fueled by both demographic and policy changes.
    Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But Gauff started more aggressively disrupting Pegula’s rhythm with her combination of heavy topspin and skidding slice, as well as acceleration and deceleration of the ball from groundstroke to groundstroke.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • This time, the deceleration is being driven largely by internal factors—capital discipline, geology, and infrastructure constraints—rather than a market shock.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But with her coalition prospects in doubt, and the party weakened by scandal and voter frustration, her route to Japan’s top job is far from assured.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Studies have found that, in some instances, background noise can weaken territorial responses in males.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • August saw both a relaxation in some home purchase restrictions and a high-profile acknowledgement by Chinese Premier Li Qiang that the real estate slump remained unresolved, indicating the need for more support.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The bad news, at least as far as Bowman is concerned, is that every slump, or loss, or (especially) bad goal against will feel like a referendum on his vision.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The potential for sharp, disputatious cultural criticism has arguably slackened.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
  • However, despite high prices, consumer demand for beef has yet to meaningfully slacken, especially with the summer grilling months.
    Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Watering too often, not often enough, at lower ambient temperatures, and late in the day can lead to plant diseases, leaf drop, or an explosion of harmful pests.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Queens saw enrollment drop 13% between fall 2024 and fall 2025 and had over $104 million in outstanding debt at the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Users are able to search URLs, emails and phone numbers to determine if the person contacting them was flagged as a scammer.
    Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Jones isn't the first owner to be flagged for such unsportsmanlike conduct.
    David K. Li, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Everrati's left pedal operates pads on discs in the normal fashion, but the motors also give powerful regenerative retardation when the accelerator is lifted.
    Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 18 June 2021
  • The policy of retardation of submarine technology ended right after the beginning of the Anglo-German naval race (marked by the German Naval Laws of 1898 and 1900).
    chicagotribune.com, chicagotribune.com, 28 July 2017

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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 14 Oct. 2025.

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