as in recessions
a period of decreased economic activity
the stock market is in a bit of a slump, but analysts expect things to pick up in the next fiscal quarter
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Recent Examples of slumps
David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
For most young players, their first season in the majors is a rollercoaster characterized by hot streaks and slumps.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 May 2026
The extremes of his slumps waned and his strikeouts dipped significantly.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 25 May 2026
But snacks can also be mindful, healthy noshes that reboot and recharge, powering you through between-meal slumps.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
Sometimes, players just go through slumps.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
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
Those slumps have largely driven down the retailer's stock in recent years.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
Just like your favorite athlete, your favorite (or at times, least favorite) sports bettor goes through slumps.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
For most young players, their first season in the majors is a rollercoaster characterized by hot streaks and slumps.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 May 2026
The extremes of his slumps waned and his strikeouts dipped significantly.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 25 May 2026
But snacks can also be mindful, healthy noshes that reboot and recharge, powering you through between-meal slumps.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
Sometimes, players just go through slumps.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
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
Those slumps have largely driven down the retailer's stock in recent years.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slumps
Noun
-
Throughout modern American history, recessions have arrived with brutal regularity.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
There are no contracts about potential recessions in 2028 or 2029.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The effortlessly cool shape sits low on the hips, with a shorter inseam that slouches through a subtle, flattering drape.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Footwear News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In it, a Native Hawaiian family struggles to reclaim the ancestral lands that colonization, tourism, and rampant development threaten to overrun.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Over the last few years, Keira has lost her ability to speak, has started having seizures, and struggles more and more with walking.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
As a result, the tournament typically sags in the middle, as neither comes close to losing.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
The roof flakes, the porch sags.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Solar activity waxes and wanes on an 11-year cycle, the most recent of which peaked in 2024.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
28 May 2026
-
In a sign that interest in the Eagles never wanes, a call for mailbag questions netted dozens of questions.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The cream should hold a soft, semi-sturdy peak that gently droops at the tip without collapsing entirely.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But the lesson from AOL-Time Warner holds that promised big synergies can sour into integration problems that drive up expenses instead, so that the combination of paying a huge price, and getting negative savings, tanks the stock.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
This year’s team is an exceptional group of talented players, but their defense fouls too much, Smith dribbles too much and our shooting percentage often tanks.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When a substantial fraction of that talent pool declines even to consider military service, no signing bonus will close the gap.—
Robert Krasner,
STAT,
1 June 2026
-
And yet there's been no change in women's biology, or the age at which fertility declines.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slumps. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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