downer

American  

[dau-ner] / ˈdaʊ nər /

noun

• downers
  plural

1. Informal.

   1. a depressant or sedative drug, especially a barbiturate.

   2. a depressing experience, person, or situation.

2. Animal Husbandry. an old or diseased animal, especially one that cannot stand up.

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downer British  

/ ˈdaʊnə /

noun

1. Also called: down. a barbiturate, tranquillizer, or narcotic Compare upper

2. a depressing experience

3. a state of depression

   he's on a downer today

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• downers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of downer

1910–15, for an earlier sense; 1965–70, downer for def. 1; down ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

downer downers

I don’t want to end my response on a downer.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

But Riley stressed the film is not a downer portrayal of the struggle between social classes.

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

It’s just a downer, an inappropriate introduction of ugly real-world truths.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

Singer Emmy aims for a hopeful spin on a tragic story but, despite a peppy performance, it's a bit of a downer.

From BBC ● May 9, 2025

I’m not trying to make this a downer, understand.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Here are a few more ways to fight this month’s financial downers:

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 1, 2024

There were two downers: McKennie and center back Miles Robinson, the team’s best defender this year, will miss the Jamaica match.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 13, 2021

“I Don’t Live Here Anymore” is not, however, an album of downers.

From New York Times ● Oct. 18, 2021

Why can’t they be total downers like the Jim Carroll Band and Beck?

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2017

If there are few equivalents in television to film’s great downers, that’s because the medium plays by very different rules.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2016