STEP DOWN Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

step-down

noun

ˈstep-ˌdau̇n

Definition of step-down

as in reduction

the amount by which something is lessened took a huge step-down in income when she switched from a law career to one in social work

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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 step-down That means testifying before legislative committees, meeting with DHHS leadership, and advocating for sustained funding—not one-time fixes—for mental health beds, crisis stabilization units, and step-down facilities. — Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026 Some of the incumbent step-downs were due to the pursuit of a new job; in other cases, fresh initiatives dictated change. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026 Just beyond its foyer, a step-down living room with a fireplace offers a view of the lake, while a dining room (also with a fireplace) spills out onto a balcony overlooking the water. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026 Men tend to age slowly with little step-downs, and women tend to have very sudden changes. — Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for step-down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for step-down

Noun

The district has struggled financially for years before the latest reductions.

— Velvet Wu July 25, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
The precise impact of any individual funding reduction is difficult to quantify because the Ebola outbreak and its spread has been influenced by many factors, including political turmoil, armed conflict and mistrust in healthcare workers.

— Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of reduction

Noun

Although the county has experienced a significant decrease in its birth rate over the past decade, its 2024 rate was notably higher compared to the United States, according to the most recent data from Tarrant County Public Health.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
Overdose deaths in Vermont dropped last year to 170, a 37 percent decrease from the peak in 2022, but still far above the 78 deaths recorded in 2010.

— Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Definition of decrease

Noun

The following season, Toney appeared in a career-high 13 games, but he was plagued by drops and a late-season injury.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
The temperature drop will be quite pronounced at elevations above 6,000 feet, with much of the Sierra in the 80s.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of drop

Noun

In September 2024, state economists attributed the drop in play to a decline in scratch-off sales as consumers faced inflationary pressures coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic period, which saw a spike in Lottery purchases.

— Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Originally housing offices, its heyday in Detroit’s industrial age was brief, sliding into decline in the 1960s and ultimately going vacant.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026

Definition of decline

Noun

The figure was weighed down by currency headwinds, which left a 200 million Swiss francs dent, and the production segment, as Swatch chose to keep factories and jobs intact rather than cut hours.

— Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
But there are so many programs in the code that are essentially unrelated to funding the government that one more barely makes a dent.

— Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026