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

Eventually she started Go Gentle, but still, her heroine was a downer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 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

The ending’s a downer, all right, but you might just smile too.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025

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

Scrolling through CountDowners is a very serious downer.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera