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
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
When managing a schedule of roughly 60 games, there isn’t time to be patient or let hitters work through slumps.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 29 Apr. 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
His season has been a rollercoaster at times, interrupted by injuries and shooting slumps and the overall adjustment process to playing in Jokic’s orbit.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Those slumps have largely driven down the retailer's stock in recent years.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Everyone already knows about the Red Sox’s struggles, especially at the plate, but the Mariners and Tigers’ early slumps have been equally puzzling.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Everybody goes through their slumps.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
Sometimes, players just go through slumps.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
When managing a schedule of roughly 60 games, there isn’t time to be patient or let hitters work through slumps.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 29 Apr. 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
His season has been a rollercoaster at times, interrupted by injuries and shooting slumps and the overall adjustment process to playing in Jokic’s orbit.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Those slumps have largely driven down the retailer's stock in recent years.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Everyone already knows about the Red Sox’s struggles, especially at the plate, but the Mariners and Tigers’ early slumps have been equally puzzling.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Everybody goes through their slumps.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slumps
Noun
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That big, ugly, black hole of our debt is slowly sucking out the ability of the central bank to respond to recessions, Slok argues.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
The efforts worked, but at the cost of two recessions.—
Christine Zhang,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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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
-
By slow degrees, Philip’s story shifts to accommodate the incontrovertible evidence of IP addresses and deciphered cryptography and Lucy struggles to keep up, let alone understand.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
-
Courtesy Christine Russo Christine Russo, Dominic Russo’s older sister, who participated in the Netflix documentary, said her family still struggles with his loss.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The roof flakes, the porch sags.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
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Their constant companion in the campaign is the Amazona 180 bag that made its debut on the Loewe runway last October, a slouchy, one-handle style that sags open when left unzipped.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Researchers are cautiously optimistic but warn the decline is slowing, some Western states saw double-digit increases, and deaths could rebound if treatment access wanes or policies shift.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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If flower production wanes a bit, give them a drink of liquid fertilizer.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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As his mobility declines, he’s been unable to extend plays to attack downfield and has appeared unwilling to take some of the contact necessary to create explosive plays.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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As Simpson declines, the actress appears frail, diminished, stripped of poise and makeup.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slumps. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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