DOWNBEAT Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

downbeat 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of downbeat

as in hopeless

emphasizing or expecting the worst a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

downbeat

2 of 2

noun

as in downturn

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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 downbeat

Adjective

The next morning, back in my group, the atmosphere was downbeat. — Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026 But, leaving Monza, there was much more of a downbeat tone from Hamilton about his title chances against Antonelli, the driver who replaced him at Mercedes. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

The Kyrie opens with a strong D-major chord in the large orchestra that seems an obvious downbeat but turns out to be an upbeat. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026 The physical thing is universal, like, downbeat is always down in every part of the world. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for downbeat

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downbeat

Adjective

On Monday, a day after the Colts lost to the winless and hopeless Tennessee Titans at home, Indianapolis announced that Ballard has been relieved of his duties as team general manager.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Colonel Brandon Herbert Nordrum Nordrum plays Colonel Brandon as a sad, hopeless yet smoldering sleeper suitor who can’t take his eyes off of Marianne.

— Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopeless

Noun

In China, Hermès has proved more resilient than its peers since the beginning of the luxury downturn in 2023.

— Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
The remarks followed the release of strong quarterly results, with revenue and earnings beating analysts’ expectations despite a 6% downturn in revenue due to pressure squeezing all broadband purveyors.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of downturn

Noun

With enormous amounts of debt on its balance sheet, the company is vulnerable to sharp moves in interest rates, as well as any signs of a slowdown in the data center buildout.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Elon Musk ordered the Starlink slowdown that hindered Kyiv’s defense last week, US officials told The Wall Street Journal, an episode that punctuated a stunning breakdown in US-Ukraine ties.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of slowdown

Adjective

For now, the AI anxiety appears confined to credit investors, by nature a more dour and pessimistic bunch than stockholders.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Overall, 63% of the public is pessimistic about the current state of the economy and the outlook, up 1 percentage point from the July survey.

— Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of pessimistic

Noun

The real tests are here Miami has already beaten a Wake Forest team that is looking like a dark horse team in the ACC and easily handled Clemson, which is on the downswing but has been one of the league’s top teams for the better part of the decade.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
The story has been updated to the early 2000s, where diehard baseball fan Joe Boyd dreams of his team, the Baltimore Orioles, which has been on downswing, returning to glory.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of downswing

Adjective

Under Sorrells, morale at the office is bleak and has resulted in an exodus, according to two veteran prosecutors who left the office and spoke on the condition they not be identified.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Yet missing from this bleak picture are the ways that Ukraine has already adapted to escalating attacks.

— Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of bleak

Noun

This structural deficit tends to stall innovation, leaving the enterprise vulnerable to competitive stagnation.

— Syed Ahmad, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Even after years of creative stagnation, a hiatus, and, tragically, the death of Takeoff, in 2022, Migos had already cemented themselves as cultural icons perennially synonymous with everything cool.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026