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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
-
All 39 have recorded enrollment decreases, based on an analysis by the California Department of Education.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
With fewer dense air molecules in the path of a moving baseball, aerodynamic drag decreases and the ball can carry marginally farther.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Health Commission will not be voting on the DPH budget or staff reductions reviewed in this meeting because the Commission already approved the FY26-28 DPH budget at its March 2, 2026 meeting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Perseverance rover, which is on Mars collecting rock and soil samples, could face spending reductions.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To keep it simple, combine 1 cup of baking soda with 10 drops of your choice of citrus or lavender oil, then sprinkle it over soft surfaces such as carpets or upholstered furniture.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
16 Apr. 2026
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For anyone who has only ever experienced rain as something that gradually builds — a few drops, then more, then a steady fall — a wall of rain upends that expectation entirely.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The declines come after a winning week for Wall Street, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite climbing to all-time highs last week following a ceasefire between Iran and Lebanon.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The declines have been escalating in recent months.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Check your propane level and inspect the tank for any visible dents or damage if using a gas grill.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Protective bumpers on the front and back help guard against scratches and dents, while four smooth-rolling wheels keep things moving effortlessly through crowded terminals.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Step-downs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-downs. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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