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definitions

downer

[ dou-ner ]
/ ˈdaʊ nər /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR downer ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Informal.
  1. a depressant or sedative drug, especially a barbiturate.
  2. a depressing experience, person, or situation.
Animal Husbandry. an old or diseased animal, especially one that cannot stand up.

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RELATED WORDS

misfortune, drag, bummer

Nearby words

  1. downcourt,
  2. downcurved,
  3. downcycle,
  4. downdraft,
  5. downdraught,
  6. downers grove,
  7. downey,
  8. downey cell,
  9. downfall,
  10. downfallen

Origin of downer

1910–15, Americanism, for an earlier sense; 1965–70, for def 1; down1 + -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for downer

British Dictionary definitions for downer

downer

/ (ˈdaʊnə) /

noun slang

Also called: down a barbiturate, tranquillizer, or narcoticCompare upper
a depressing experience
a state of depressionhe's on a downer today
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for downer

downer

n.

1966 in sense of "barbiturate;" 1970 in sense of "depressing person;" agent noun from down (v.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for downer

downer

[ dou′nər ]

n.

A depressant or sedative drug, such as a barbiturate or tranquilizer.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.