variants
or step downs
also stepdowns
as in decreases
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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Recent Examples of step-downs
Some of the incumbent step-downs were due to the pursuit of a new job; in other cases, fresh initiatives dictated change.
—
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026
Men tend to age slowly with little step-downs, and women tend to have very sudden changes.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026
Men tend to age slowly with little step-downs, and women tend to have very sudden changes.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step-downs
Noun
-
Even if policy changes or negotiations are successful, Schieldrop said that seeing significant decreases in prices is likely still a long time coming.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
4 May 2026
-
All 39 have recorded enrollment decreases, based on an analysis by the California Department of Education.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Further reductions in homelessness will help balance our budget.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
While many observers expect layoffs to help the company reach that target, executives have maintained that back-office efficiencies and the deployment of technology, rather than headcount reductions, will be the drivers.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
When online is treated as a distribution channel rather than a learning system, persistence drops, and skepticism rises.—
Ian Gibson,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
When cleaning homes with lingering pet odors, Parekh recommends applying a few drops of enzyme cleaner to the pad rather than relying solely on the Swiffer solution.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their ability to contract declines and their metabolism changes.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
The reasons for the enrollment declines vary, while solutions aren’t around the corner, though some suggest fewer students equals more resources to those who remain.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Avoid cans that have dents or lid damage, as this can increase the risk of bacteria that cause botulism (a form of food poisoning).—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
1 May 2026
-
Smooth Dents and Remove Stains from Wood Wooden floors and tables can be extremely prone to dents, nicks, and stains, but an iron can be a surprisingly effective way to clear off water stains and smooth out dents.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Step-downs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-downs. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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