as in hopeless
emphasizing or expecting the worst
a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in downturn
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of downbeat
Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Doors at the Longhorn Ballroom open at 6:30 p.m. on May 29 for the birthday benefit, with downbeat at 7:30.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2025
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Packaging food company Hormel Foods tumbled 13% after issuing a downbeat quarterly profit forecast.
—Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Adjective
The album is almost entirely instrumental, featuring a polyphonic blend of percussion, strings, keyboards, synths, and woodwinds, with André’s flute driving the downbeat.
—Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Doors at the Longhorn Ballroom open at 6:30 p.m. on May 29 for the birthday benefit, with downbeat at 7:30.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2025
Noun
His demeanor was downbeat and filled with disappointment in his performances.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Packaging food company Hormel Foods tumbled 13% after issuing a downbeat quarterly profit forecast.
—Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downbeat
Adjective
-
Yerevan now found itself in a hopeless situation, bereft of any real allies, its military in tatters, and an increasingly bitter Armenian public.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Showing such unwavering and hopeless devotion?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Retail sales, industrial production, and investment levels were all below analysts’ expectations in August, while a real estate downturn intensified.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
That $21 million profit amounts to less than a 1% net margin—barely a cushion if circumstances take a downturn.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Huang, also a professional military strategist and university professor, told the Washington Examiner that his party sees the DPP’s posturing as a cynical move to build domestic support without considering the long-term consequences.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
That has often been misinterpreted as a cynical endorsement of warfare.—
Andreas Kluth,
Twin Cities,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As traffic increases, inefficient code can cause slowdowns and system crashes.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The latest monthly growth data showed there was zero growth in July, compared with the previous month, spurring concerns that a slowdown was setting in.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Losing confidence in landing a job Americans are increasingly pessimistic about their prospects of getting a new job.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Initial assumptions reacting to the April surge in volatility in the financial markets were broadly pessimistic.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Sales at Dave & Buster’s have been on the downswing for quite some time, and Lal acknowledged that the trend is continuing this quarter.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Most songs and albums are on the downswing, but Osbourne manages something unexpected this week in America.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Not all of Mythopedia is so bleak—just my favorite parts.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
-
When kittens Sam and Frodo were found, survival odds were bleak.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One partner’s growth and clarity and the other’s sense of stagnation may evoke comparison, inadequacy or shame.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Operatives attribute the stagnation to the split within the party.—
Amie Parnes,
The Hill,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downbeat. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share