downer

noun

down·​er ˈdau̇-nər How to pronounce downer (audio)
plural downers
1
: a depressant drug
especially : barbiturate
… would often take the stage stoned on downers or high on acid … Peter Keough
Suppressant drugs, referred to as "downers", help create feelings of relaxation and tiredness rather than the high that people get from taking "uppers" … Izzy Lyons
2
: someone or something depressing, disagreeable, or unsatisfactory
Rain, biting insects, and soggy ground are other downers that keep me under cover.Norman Strung
Losing in their conference tournaments was a major downer for the NC State and East Carolina baseball teams.Brett Friedlander
3
: a weak, sick, or lame domesticated animal (such as a cow or pig) that is down and cannot get up
… the USDA last week instituted a series of measures to reassure consumers that American beef is safe, including a ban on the slaughter of cattle too sick or injured to walk, called downers, for human food.Cathy Booth Thomas
often used before another noun
a downer cow

Examples of downer in a Sentence

I took some downers to help me sleep. “His cat just died.” “Oh, that's a real downer.” Our conversation about death was a bit of a downer.
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.
Dell also misses the space at the sides of the keyboard since the four speakers are above it and on the laptop's underside, adding to the list of design downers. PCMAG, 27 Sep. 2024 Yup, that means eight players will be sent home almost immediately, which is kind of a downer. Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024 The moon challenging Venus and Saturn can be a downer. USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024 Sorelle’s gentle beauty of a film is no downer, reflecting a resilient culture that refuses to be bulldozed over to make way for luxury homes. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for downer 

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of downer was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near downer

Cite this Entry

“Downer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downer. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

downer

noun
down·​er ˈdau̇n-ər How to pronounce downer (audio)
1
: a depressant drug
especially : barbiturate
2
: something that is depressing, disagreeable, or unsatisfactory

Medical Definition

downer

noun
down·​er ˈdau̇-nər How to pronounce downer (audio)
: a depressant drug
especially : barbiturate
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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