recession

noun

ri-ˈse-shən How to pronounce recession (audio)
Definition of recessionnext
1
as in slump
a period of decreased economic activity the country is just coming out of a recession, so expect to see fewer layoffs and more new jobs in the coming year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in withdrawal
an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable a retiring CEO making a gradual recession from the daily rigors of running a major corporation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 recession That year, the United Kingdom tipped into recession, and Marylebone High Street became a retail wasteland. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 The brief recession sparked by the Covid pandemic triggered another wave of funding cuts for colleges and universities. — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 With debts low, borrowers did not struggle for long, and the resulting recession was short and mild. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 That surcharge, part of a recession-era effort to reduce a then-looming MTA fare hike, goes to the transit agency by law. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recession
  1. slump
  2. withdrawal
  3. retreat
  4. retirement
Noun
  • Chief Financial Officer Shiv Verma told CNBC event contracts on crypto movements did well in the quarter, offering investors another way to express a view on crypto despite the slump in prices and spot trading.
    — Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • There's a kernel of truth to it; Ohtani was clearly limited by several injuries down the stretch, with a lengthy slump accompanying an increase in chase rate and swing and miss.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of slump
Noun
  • Hong ultimately lost the primary election to Crowley by less than a percentage point following Barnes’s withdrawal from the race at the eleventh hour.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Agriculture accounts for around 72% of the world’s freshwater withdrawals, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
    — Adhum Carter Wolde-Lule, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of withdrawal
Noun
  • Sylge, who has spent the last 30 years attending and organizing health and wellness retreats around the world, developed this exercise to help people reclaim their time.
    — Margaret Cirino, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Even if oil prices retreat, fares are unlikely to return to pre conflict levels.
    — , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreat
Noun
  • Existing bank account takeover A criminal gains access to your existing checking account, savings account, retirement account or payment app.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Current owner Mark Attanasio bought the Brewers from the Selig family in January 2005, and Bud Selig remained as commissioner until his retirement in January 2015 at age 80.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of retirement

Browse Nearby Words

recessing
recession
recessional
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recession. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on recession

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about recession

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