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.
But after his detour into downer classics like Tonight’s the Night, Young was ready to throw those folks some red meat. Chris Stanton, Vulture, 17 Mar. 2025 Uncertainty over the direction of Trump’s chaotic trade policy is another downer. Anna Cooban, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025 The cold weather can be a real downer for your style. Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025 Can’t win for losing Perhaps the biggest downer of all has been MLS teams’ inability to take advantage of Messi’s absence by at least earning a comprehensive victory, and potentially giving those who came to see Messi a reasson to return to see the local club. Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downer. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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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