down·beat
ˈdau̇n-ˌbēt 
1
: the downward stroke of a conductor indicating the principally accented note of a measure of music
also
: the first beat of a measure
2
: a decline in activity or prosperity
: pessimistic, gloomy
a downbeat assessment
Synonyms
Examples of downbeat in a Sentence
Adjective
a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year
Recent Examples on the Web
David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Much like the duo's earlier film, The Lodge takes a story that is relatively straightforward and energizes it with a slick nihilism that lends it the patina of the best downbeat horrors from the 1970s.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for downbeat 
Noun
Powell also made a point of acknowledging downbeat readings of consumer sentiment.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Much like the duo's earlier film, The Lodge takes a story that is relatively straightforward and energizes it with a slick nihilism that lends it the patina of the best downbeat horrors from the 1970s.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for downbeat
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downbeat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downbeat. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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