SLOW (DOWN) Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

slow (down) 1 of 2

verb

Definition of slow (down)

as in to die (down)

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

slowdown

2 of 2

noun

ˈslō-ˌdau̇n

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

Bally’s issued a statement Wednesday defending the construction slowdown and welcoming a public hearing on the matter. — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 The company also saw a slowdown in gaming growth in the first quarter of the year. — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Any slowdown or hiccup in spending from the major hyperscalers could also make Vertiv investors vulnerable. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 OpenAI said that ChatGPT had 900 million weekly active users in February of this year, and reaching 1 billion five months later represents a significant slowdown in growth for ChatGPT, which was for years touted as the fastest-growing software ever. — David Pierce, The Verge, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slow (down)

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow (down)

Verb

However, consuming large amounts—such as those used in studies where up to 1/2 cup was consumed daily—can start to weaken and damage tooth enamel.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
Apple’s market dominance is built around September; moving away from tradition would upset the ecosystem supporting the launch and risk weakening the iPhone’s dominant position.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaken

Noun

This decline could affect the annual value of his next contract.

— Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Overall, patients who took estrogen-only hormone therapy for menopause were less likely to display signs of memory loss or cognitive decline or to be diagnosed with dementia.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

Surf-rock riffs, punctuated with pockets of silence, eventually slacken in tempo for a glorious, slo-mo finish.

— Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Following 2023’s Emotional Contracts, where producer Dave Fridmann injected a harder, radio-ready punch, Coin-O-Matic’s mellower Americana sound reflects a band at ease with itself, even when the tempos slacken and the organ gets buried in the mix.

— Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026

Definition of slacken

Noun

During the test drive, Lawgalet experienced the deceleration caused from regenerative braking, panicked and decided to return to the dealership after being surprised by the sensation.

— Charles Singh, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Murphy, an instrumentation engineer, had designed electronic strain gauge sensors that could accurately measure the amount of G-force applied during deceleration.

— Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026

Definition of deceleration

Verb

Pittsburgh was flagged 11 times for 135 yards while the Packers were penalized nine times for 76 yards.

— CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Through continuous data capture and signal labeling, SensorMAX assists aircrews by keeping an eye on the data stream and flagging potential threats.

— David Szondy August 12, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of flag

Noun

Bumble and competitor Tinder, owned by Match Group, have reported consecutive declining rates of paying users, revenue and stock slumps in recent years.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Short sellers betting against SpaceX are rapidly retreating from the trade, just as the newly public stock rebounds from its post-IPO slump.

— Yun Li, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of slump

Noun

Unlike other meat products, the cost of chicken has seen little fluctuation in recent months, so much so that July’s 3-cent drop signaled the single biggest monthly change dating back to November 2024.

— Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
The critic who found a helpful narrative to understand the history, and future, of our images, without a drop of cynicism.

— Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of drop

Browse Nearby Words

slow burn

slow (down)

slowdown

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Slow (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow%20%28down%29. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of slow (down)

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

zeugma

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes