as in slump
a situation in which something (such as business or economic activity) decreases or becomes worse
—usually singular
an economic downturn There's been a downturn in the housing market.
Related Words
Relevance
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 downturn
Energy prices have surged due to the disruption to supplies, prompting governments to ration fuel and raising fears of an economic downturn as inflation builds.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 15 May 2026
The downturn also thinned out the music clubs that were a pipeline for local talent, Mitchell said.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
During her tenure as CFO, Home Depot navigated several major challenges, including leadership changes, shareholder pressure, and the 2007–08 financial crisis and housing downturn, which sharply reduced demand for home improvement spending.
—Bynick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
Miguel Rojas ended an 0-for-22 downturn with a fourth-inning single.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for downturn
Reuters, NBC news, 15 May 2026
The downturn also thinned out the music clubs that were a pipeline for local talent, Mitchell said.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
During her tenure as CFO, Home Depot navigated several major challenges, including leadership changes, shareholder pressure, and the 2007–08 financial crisis and housing downturn, which sharply reduced demand for home improvement spending.
—Bynick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
Miguel Rojas ended an 0-for-22 downturn with a fourth-inning single.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for downturn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturn
Noun
-
During his slump, he had clearly been focused on pulling the ball.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
19 May 2026
-
Commercial real estate has been in a lengthy slump, as businesses pulled back on expansion plans given China’s sluggish economy.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
While eight years ago there was fervour and enthusiasm, on Sunday there was apathy and deflation at an adventure that has unravelled in dispiriting fashion.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
That will cap a stunning reversal after the central bank maintained ultra-low rates—and even negative rates for several years—to fight deflation amid a stagnating economy.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Consumption has been linked to decreases in all-cause mortality.—
Christina Manian,
Health,
14 May 2026
-
But drug harm reduction advocates and researchers say shifts in the drug supply and changes in drug use are the major contributors to the decrease in deaths.—
Ana Goñi-Lessan,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Machine-washable without color fading, shrinkage or pilling.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
For example, certain psychiatric illnesses have been shown to cause atrophy, or shrinkage, of parts of the brain.—
Eric J. Nestler,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Everything hinges on exactly how good Pettersson can still be after a tumultuous falloff over the past two seasons.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
With the apparel market forecast to grow 2-4 percent per year between 2023 and 2028—a steep falloff from the 7–14 percent seen during the post-Covid recovery—executives are homing in on more immediate budget squeezes.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The ratio carved out a rounded bottom over the past year, reversing its cyclical downtrend with a base breakout in Q1.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
These experts also invariably forecast a sharp downtrend in the inflation curve once the conflict ends.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With the federal government’s attacks on public employees, collective bargaining remains one of the last bulwarks against further diminution of the role or benefits of public employees.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
6 May 2026
-
This is the diminution of American power, the erosion of American power, and Trump is doing it willfully, with no strategic idea in his head.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This soot reduction could also make engines stealthier by reducing their infrared signature.—
David Szondy
May 17,
New Atlas,
17 May 2026
-
As of May 15, the stock was trading down nearly 35% from the time of its workforce reduction.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturn. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
