downer

noun

ˈdau̇-nər How to pronounce downer (audio)
Definition of downernext
as in accident
something (as a situation or event) that is depressing that story of drug addiction was a real downer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 downer Upper’s a downer But Blue Origin could not celebrate the achievement for long. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2026 Another, amazing design, but the location is a total downer. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Learning to identify these downer moments and replace them with positive images is really empowering and can make your days more enjoyable. — Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 6 May 2026 What’s good for United could be a downer for travelers, and traditionally, anything that shrinks the list of rivals linking the same two metros from a longer roster to just one or two raises red flags for regulators. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downer
  1. accident
  2. bore
  3. down
  4. bummer
Noun
  • Derived from a Central African shrub, the drug's ability to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings were uncovered by accident, when Howard Lotsof, a 19-year old addicted to heroin, tried ibogaine out of curiosity in 1962.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Since 2023, state regulators have issued 6,928 citations, including 140 for abuse and neglect by staff, 254 for accident hazards, and 257 for failing to control infections, according to state records.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Definition of accident
Noun
  • Breaking it down by item type, 80 percent of scarves 54 percent of tops, 25 percent of baby clothing, 13 percent of activewear and 14 percent of sleep wear bore inaccurate labels.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 25 June 2026
  • Blanca Quinonez knows only one way to play, with full- bore, hit-the-floor intensity.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2026
Definition of bore
Noun
  • Besides the curiosity that would accompany the wedding of the world’s biggest celebrity, Swift’s wedding means something to fans who watched her process her feelings, her romantic ups and downs through her music for years.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • The two went through a tumultuous series of ups and downs over the subsequent year before Cuddy left the hospital — and the show — at the end of season 7.
    — Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 July 2026
Definition of down
Noun
  • Rumors of such a move surfaced a while back … but still a bummer.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 24 June 2026
  • Kara has a backstory, which turns out to be an overinflated CGI bummer.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 June 2026
Definition of bummer

Browse Nearby Words

downed
downer
downers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downer. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All