as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success
the downside of living in the country is, of course, the long commute to work
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Recent Examples of downside
Unfortunately, one of the few downsides of hotel hopping is having to repack and unpack your bags between stays, as well as the time lapse during the day between check-out and check-in.
—
Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
But that lack of sensation also has its downsides, as this kinetic action comedy demonstrates.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Then came Madden, and with it, the downside of constant visibility.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
With that said, there are an equal number of downsides to a weaker dollar.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downside
Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
But that lack of sensation also has its downsides, as this kinetic action comedy demonstrates.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Then came Madden, and with it, the downside of constant visibility.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
With that said, there are an equal number of downsides to a weaker dollar.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downside
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downside
Noun
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Stewart nullified the size disadvantage with his speed and relentless style.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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And yet, such disadvantages might have been overcome, especially in urban settings, had there been the vision and will among America’s industrialists.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The 75-foot Dry Falls—the most popular in western North Carolina—invites travelers to walk behind it while staying mostly dry or view it from the handicap-accessible overlook.—
Trudy Haywood Saunders,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Jan. 2026
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That was a huge handicap for McNeil and Boers, who had to sign off in late afternoon in late fall and winter.—
Phil Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The answer is complex There are a few ways to measure readiness, but each method has its drawbacks, said Jill Cannon, a senior policy researcher at global policy think tank RAND.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
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Like Beck, Moniak rated negatively in defensive WAR in ’25, but the defensive drawback could be offset by platooning him in right field.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downside. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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