as in reduction
the amount by which something is lessened
took a huge step-down in income when she switched from a law career to one in social work
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of step-down
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics revisions show a sharp slowdown in payroll growth in the second quarter of 2025, with the biggest step-downs in low-wage industries such as retail, wholesale, leisure, and hospitality.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
Each voltage conversion comes with some energy loss, so the goal is to accomplish this step-down in as few conversions as possible.
—Steven Woo, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The Idaho Department of Correction implemented a step-down program that gradually transitions inmates from solitary confinement to a more open environment, KBOI reported.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
Your superset will be made up of the Romanian deadlift—a classic hip hinge move that’s great for targeting your backside muscles, including your glutes, hamstrings, and back—and the lateral step-down to heel tap, another single-leg move that hits your quads and glutes.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-down
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
Each voltage conversion comes with some energy loss, so the goal is to accomplish this step-down in as few conversions as possible.
—Steven Woo, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The Idaho Department of Correction implemented a step-down program that gradually transitions inmates from solitary confinement to a more open environment, KBOI reported.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
Your superset will be made up of the Romanian deadlift—a classic hip hinge move that’s great for targeting your backside muscles, including your glutes, hamstrings, and back—and the lateral step-down to heel tap, another single-leg move that hits your quads and glutes.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step-down
Noun
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After one year, participants in all three groups saw reductions not only in their distress but in levels of hemoglobin A1C (a key indicator of blood glucose; higher levels mean worse control).—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
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Rudolph said the tools, which are mainly used to automate session notes, to autogenerate care plans and to interpret lab results, have resulted in a 65 percent reduction in documentation time.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One study in British Columbia found that sea star wasting disease led to a 311 percent increase in the population of medium-sized sea urchins and a 30 percent decrease in kelp density over two years.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Oct. 2025
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The increase in population growth last year drove the neutral rate higher, the decrease in population growth this year is driving it lower, and that means that policy was much looser last year than people thought.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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New additives like preservatives, flavorings and vitamins were infused into them, and they were packaged in novel ways to withstand hard helicopter drops, wet beach landings and days at the bottom of rucksacks.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Drag performance, with its abundance of wigs, campy makeup and death drops, is ready-made for Halloween.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That research has also linked ultraprocessed foods to health concerns like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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These participants tended to report good physical health and strong social relationships, but their testing revealed small declines in memory and emotional awareness.—
Faye Chiu,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Flooring Company Owner Then there’s Jeff Epstein, 57, who runs a flooring company in Tuscon, Arizona — and says that his name has thankfully never put a dent in his business.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
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Softened is different from melted, because softened butter still holds its shape but dents when pressed.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Step-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-down. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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