downside

noun

down·​side ˈdau̇n-ˌsīd How to pronounce downside (audio)
Synonyms of downsidenext
1
: a downward trend (as of prices)
2
: a negative aspect
the downside of fame

Synonyms of downside

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Examples of downside in a Sentence

He could find no downside to the car. the downside of living in the country is, of course, the long commute to work
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Working from home also has downsides. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 29 June 2026 But are there any downsides to consuming this nut spread regularly? — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 1 July 2026 But cyborgs also come with some major downsides compared to robots. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 1 July 2026 Almost all of this unfolded without much downside for the GOP. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for downside

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downside was in 1905

Phrases Containing downside

Rhymes for downside

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Browse Nearby Words

downshift
downside
downside up
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Cite this Entry

“Downside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downside. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on downside

Nglish: Translation of downside for Spanish Speakers

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