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
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Why are all the metals flying higher, while oil slumps to multi-year lows?
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
Behind him, his band, Kublai Khan TX, rears and slumps into its next song.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
In the fast casual space in particular, affordability has been cited as a factor in ongoing slumps, but across the quick-service landscape, a clear strategy is taking shape.
—Steve Milton, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Teams that set meeting windows, encourage short breaks, and support ergonomic basics may notice steadier output and fewer end-of-week slumps, especially when people adjust lighting, seat height, and screen distance to reduce eye strain.
—Jason Phillips, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
The ebbs and flows of results will occur for any team, but the best coaches are those who keep any short-term slumps to a minimum.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
Just one week ago, Miami Heat center and captain Bam Adebayo was in the middle of one of the worst offensive slumps of his NBA career.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Why are all the metals flying higher, while oil slumps to multi-year lows?
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
Behind him, his band, Kublai Khan TX, rears and slumps into its next song.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
In the fast casual space in particular, affordability has been cited as a factor in ongoing slumps, but across the quick-service landscape, a clear strategy is taking shape.
—Steve Milton, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Teams that set meeting windows, encourage short breaks, and support ergonomic basics may notice steadier output and fewer end-of-week slumps, especially when people adjust lighting, seat height, and screen distance to reduce eye strain.
—Jason Phillips, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
The ebbs and flows of results will occur for any team, but the best coaches are those who keep any short-term slumps to a minimum.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slumps
Noun
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Typically, deficits expand in recessions because of lower tax revenues and additional spending on unemployment benefits.—
Raghuram Rajan,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Twin recessions with unemployment rates topping 10% and remaining above 7% for about four years.—
Howard Schneider,
USA Today,
19 Jan. 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
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Traveling around the world, arranging meetings with whoever is the oldest at that particular moment in time, Green struggles to formulate the right questions to ask these people.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
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Azad doesn’t know that she’s adopted, and Rojîn struggles with how to tell her.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Queen of minimalism, Janet has essentially just set type in panels—but the way the background sags like a deflating hot-air balloon, with the type recessed into it, is so wry and brilliant.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Procter & Gamble is selling diapers made with silk fibers in China as part of the company's strategy to entice shoppers to spend more, even as demand for some of its products wanes.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2026
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When monitoring wanes and enforcement fades, workers pay the price first in wages and safety, then in silenced voices and must choose between an empty stomach and their rights.—
Tharo Khun,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
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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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This setback tanks the trade value the Mavericks had hoped to restore following his return from a left calf strain that kept him out of 14 games this season.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Using rolling peaks, which measure declines from the most recent market high rather than calendar periods, the S & P 500 has gone 185 days without a 10% drawdown, a stretch that, by itself, does not signal an imminent correction.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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Calls for repeal come with leaders of Balboa Park museums and other organizations saying that declines in park visits have ranged from 20% to more than 50% and that overall annual revenue could drop by $20 million to $30 million.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slumps. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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