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.
Compactness Has a Price One downside of squeezing this much battery and inverter into such a compact enclosure is heat management. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 The storage changes seem like the major downside to Microsoft’s updates. — Tom Warren, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026 October's atmospheric downside Even October, however, can occasionally be unkind to stargazers. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026 However, there can also be a downside to pushing the repayment timeline too hard, particularly when that money is needed elsewhere in the budget. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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