downside

noun

down·​side ˈdau̇n-ˌsīd How to pronounce downside (audio)
Synonyms of downsidenext
1
: a downward trend (as of prices)
2
: a negative aspect
the downside of fame

Examples of downside in a Sentence

He could find no downside to the car. the downside of living in the country is, of course, the long commute to work
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Monk Fruit Does Not Raise Blood Sugar There are many downsides to eating too much sugar. Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 10 Feb. 2026 Precautions There are some downsides to watering your houseplants with rice water. Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026 The downside right now is that premiums on junk silver can fluctuate wildly depending on supply. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026 However, this could be a downside if the earthworm population is extremely high, since eliminating such a high volume of earthworms inevitably harms the soil. Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downside

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downside was in 1905

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downside. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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