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
The roster of shows is a bright spot amid a downturn in local production.
—
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Several Chinese provinces scaled back their economic ambitions for 2026 amid a national downturn.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
But as Wall Street embraces tokenization, or issues different digital assets on blockchains, Bogart believes TRM will be able to weather any impending downturn.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
When a national economic downturn ends up driving farmers from their land, fertile fields and streams — once home to the myriad insects and amphibians consumed by the storks — turn into toxic trash heaps, and the avians also suffer the consequences.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downturn
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Several Chinese provinces scaled back their economic ambitions for 2026 amid a national downturn.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
But as Wall Street embraces tokenization, or issues different digital assets on blockchains, Bogart believes TRM will be able to weather any impending downturn.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
When a national economic downturn ends up driving farmers from their land, fertile fields and streams — once home to the myriad insects and amphibians consumed by the storks — turn into toxic trash heaps, and the avians also suffer the consequences.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downturn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downturn
Noun
-
Saks Global filed for bankruptcy in January amid a broader luxury market slump and under high debt loads from buying its luxury rival, Neiman Marcus.—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Several software stocks, such as ServiceNow , Salesforce and Workday showed up, all of them hard hit last week amid the slump in the group owing to concerns that artificial intelligence will erode their business.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Japan struggled for a long time with deflation and, in fact, welcomed the surge in global inflation in the earlier part of this decade.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
While the idea of a weaker dollar has had supporters over the decades, economists often argue gains can be eaten up by domestic inflation and deflation.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bass and her campaign team have sought to highlight a list of accomplishments, including a steady decrease in homicides, a drop in street homelessness and her efforts to accelerate the construction of affordable housing.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This was a decrease from a 2023 assessment.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The theme of this winter at Trader Joe’s is shrinkage.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Air-dry whenever possible, or use low heat and remove while slightly damp to prevent shrinkage.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Despite his steep falloff in OT last year, Detective Capt.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Part of the explanation for the falloff in cinema revenue and admissions lies in the movies themselves.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Twin Cities,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Crude oil has traced out a double bottom against support of roughly $55, broke a minor red downtrend line, and is now testing the 200-day moving average.—
Todd Gordon,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, the double feature has been saddled with less than expected revenues, from a downtrend in consumer spending decreasing Measure A outflow, deep cuts in state and federal funds, and higher housing costs, forcing reductions in services amounting to close to a quarter million dollars a year.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There may be some pressure as well on institutions to reduce tuition; and the major question is whether doing so might result in diminution of necessary instruction and training, particularly in person.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Of course, the early witnesses to Tongan culture were the agents of its disruption and diminution.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Most executive conversations about AI focus on risk, regulation, or cost reduction.—
David Heacock,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Improvements like reduction in poverty and crime come when households are stable and not deprived of basic necessities.—
Mansoor Shams,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downturn. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
