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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 downside
The downside is that the external spool holder is open to air, with no sealing, humidity control, or active drying.
—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
28 June 2026
The downside of Ingram compared to Skinner and Andersen is the lack of playoff experience.
—
Ava Dicecca,
Sun Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Starting watermelon seeds indoors offer several benefits like producing a longer, earlier harvest, but the downside is that this method requires lots of room and time commitment.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
The downside of his game is defense.
—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downside
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
28 June 2026
The downside of Ingram compared to Skinner and Andersen is the lack of playoff experience.
—
Ava Dicecca,
Sun Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Starting watermelon seeds indoors offer several benefits like producing a longer, earlier harvest, but the downside is that this method requires lots of room and time commitment.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
The downside of his game is defense.
—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downside
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downside
Noun
-
Many of them are single mothers due to structural disadvantages.
-
Importantly, the goal isn’t to put junior employees at a disadvantage.
Noun
-
For more serious violations, such as parking in a handicap space or in front of a fire hydrant, drivers will receive a 15-minute text warning.
-
The deal, of which Vance is increasingly the public face, is encountering a wall of opposition from skeptical conservatives who have blasted it as a loss for the United States — and a potential handicap for Vance’s political future.
Noun
-
While there are some drawbacks compared to traditional investments — such as its inability to earn dividends — there are several ways to add gold to your portfolio.
-
But most have drawbacks, including damaging bones, taking a long time to process, having expensive operational costs, or the use of environmentally hazardous substances.
Cite this Entry
“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downside. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
