letdown

American  

[let-doun] / ˈlɛtˌdaʊn /

Or let-down

noun

1. a decrease in volume, force, energy, etc..

   a letdown in sales; a general letdown of social barriers.

2. disillusionment, discouragement, or disappointment.

   The job was a letdown.

3. depression; deflation.

   He felt a terrible letdown at the end of the play.

4. the accelerated movement of milk into the mammary glands of lactating mammals upon stimulation, as by massage or suckling.

5. Aeronautics. the descent of an aircraft from a higher to a lower altitude preparatory to making an approach and landing or to making a target run or the like.

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Etymology

Origin of letdown

First recorded in 1760–70; noun use of verb phrase let down

Example Sentences

If there wasn’t a TV show or movie in production—or, if no actor was seen—the tour could be a bit of a letdown.

From The Wall Street Journal

Added safety Kamren Kitchens: “Him being off the field, you know, of course, I wouldn’t say, a letdown — but it’s Q, right? He brings that extra juice that we need.”

From Los Angeles Times

The process had been full of big hopes and bigger letdowns.

From Los Angeles Times

"People genuinely believed that you were going to be with us forever. It was the speed and the letdown to the fans at the time on how quick it happened."

From BBC

In that span, the bold pickup truck has proven a commercial letdown, especially relative to CEO Elon Musk’s expectations.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• anticlimax
• comedown
• setback