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
-
But, crucially, once a player has been registered, their status is not affected by the salary limit — whether the limit increases or decreases.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
Burnout risk decreases while clarity, engagement and resilience increase.—
Sharon A. Kuhn,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort The hotel is marching along a path to zero-landfill waste, helped in part by reductions in single-use plastics and paper materials, plus a swift recycling program.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Crucially, the military should balance these financials with attractive inducements such as robust family health care coverage, prescription drug cost reductions, and partial pension possibilities for those who provide vital service short of a full 20-year career.—
Robert Krasner,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Béis has expanded its offerings over the last few years to include kid-friendly luggage, stylish diaper bags, gym bags, commuter totes, and even fun, limited-edition color drops and collaborations.—
Meaghan Kenny,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 May 2026
-
This is not a shy whiskey, but a few drops of water round off the heat and let more citrus and vanilla shine through.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Higher education experts predict fiercer competition among colleges trying to attract students from a smaller cohort, as well as potential enrollment declines that could rock an institution’s bottom line.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
During Disney’s most recent quarterly report in early May, the company’s entertainment segment reported that streaming revenue offset declines in both linear affiliate fees and advertising.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
From there, observe any dents, soft spots or cracks.—
Alexandra Frost,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
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Hail damage can be subtle — granule loss and small dents that shorten a roof’s life without obvious leaks.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Step-downs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-downs. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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