noun
downer
DOW-nuh
noun
1
Something that makes people feel disappointed or depressed (informal).
"Finding out the concert was cancelled was a real downer."
2
A sedative or depressant drug (slang).
"He mixed alcohol with downers, which is extremely dangerous."
How to Use Downer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething disappointing or depressing, or slang for a sedative drug.
When to use it
Informal — common in casual speech, not formal writing.
Common pairings
what a downer
a real downer
Word Forms
downers plural, downers plural
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Finding out the concert was cancelled was a real _____.