downer

American  

[dou-ner] / ˈdaʊ nər /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of downer

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

Example Sentences

Sorry to be a downer, but the reality is December and January are typically the months when companies cut the most jobs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

How much of a downer would it be if he’s reduced to being a spectator when the Dodgers win the World Series?

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2024

Made in collaboration with Pallenberg’s son Marlon Richards, “Catching Fire” is a redemptive portrait that nevertheless plays like a downer.

From New York Times • May 2, 2024

For Northampton the slight downer - and these things are relative - is that they didn't land a bonus point.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2023

A user from South Carolina had posted: Don’t want to be a downer, but I just had a sad thought.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman