downer

[ dou-ner ]

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.

downer

/ ˈdaʊnə /

noun

1. Also calleddown a barbiturate, tranquillizer, or narcotic Compare upper
2. a depressing experience
3. a state of depression

   he's on a downer today

Word History and Origins

Origin of downer¹

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

Example Sentences

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

The one visual downer is the stage, which is no longer wood.

From Los Angeles Times

Both stories end with a downer — Poppea and Nero get everything they want, and it turns out that even a catastrophic cosmic event that destroys most of Earth can't quite destroy racial segregation.

From Salon

“Debbie Downer: Disney World”: There are so many to choose from, but one of my favorites was the “Debbie Downer” sketch with Lindsay Lohan.

From Los Angeles Times

Nothing's going to put a downer on it.”

From BBC