as in reduction
the amount by which something is lessened
took a huge step-down in income when she switched from a law career to one in social work
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Recent Examples of step-down
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics revisions show a sharp slowdown in payroll growth in the second quarter of 2025, with the biggest step-downs in low-wage industries such as retail, wholesale, leisure, and hospitality.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
Each voltage conversion comes with some energy loss, so the goal is to accomplish this step-down in as few conversions as possible.
—Steven Woo, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The Idaho Department of Correction implemented a step-down program that gradually transitions inmates from solitary confinement to a more open environment, KBOI reported.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
Your superset will be made up of the Romanian deadlift—a classic hip hinge move that’s great for targeting your backside muscles, including your glutes, hamstrings, and back—and the lateral step-down to heel tap, another single-leg move that hits your quads and glutes.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-down
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
Each voltage conversion comes with some energy loss, so the goal is to accomplish this step-down in as few conversions as possible.
—Steven Woo, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The Idaho Department of Correction implemented a step-down program that gradually transitions inmates from solitary confinement to a more open environment, KBOI reported.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
Your superset will be made up of the Romanian deadlift—a classic hip hinge move that’s great for targeting your backside muscles, including your glutes, hamstrings, and back—and the lateral step-down to heel tap, another single-leg move that hits your quads and glutes.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step-down
Noun
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After one year, participants in all three groups saw reductions not only in their distress but in levels of hemoglobin A1C (a key indicator of blood glucose; higher levels mean worse control).—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
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Rudolph said the tools, which are mainly used to automate session notes, to autogenerate care plans and to interpret lab results, have resulted in a 65 percent reduction in documentation time.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Still, the district saw a slight decrease in students choosing to finish the CTE pathway compared with last year.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
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Recent enrollment challenges Elon saw an 11% decrease in its new student enrollment this fall, and the number of new undergraduates enrolling at the school has been dropping since 2023.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Watering too often, not often enough, at lower ambient temperatures, and late in the day can lead to plant diseases, leaf drop, or an explosion of harmful pests.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
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Queens saw enrollment drop 13% between fall 2024 and fall 2025 and had over $104 million in outstanding debt at the end of the 2024 fiscal year.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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According to Hanke, Milei’s big loss in the Buenos Aires contest and the acceleration in the peso’s decline confirmed the Money Doctor’s warning that the inevitable lure for mismanaging the peso was Milei’s Achilles’ heel.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
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But Burke expects that public schools will see dramatic enrollment declines fueled by both demographic and policy changes.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Studies show that fines that don’t put a significant dent in a company’s profit don’t deter companies from future violations, Leffel said.—
Anjeanette Damon,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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There is no porthole, but dents in the wall mark where nails must once have held up maps or schedules, maybe photographs from home, and slotted into a niche in the wall is a small gilt mirror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Step-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-down. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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