downward
Heading toward earth
Downward describes movement or direction toward a lower position: The path led downward into the valley.
It applies to physical descent and figurative decline: a downward trend in prices, a downward spiral into addiction.
As an adverb, downwards is equally common: She glanced downwards.
The adjective form only takes downward: a downward slope.
Downward slope or lineage
sink · decline · slope · gravity · earthward · plummet · declivity · lowering
Prolonged economic decline
- slumpExtended period of decline
- depressionProlonged low state
- collapseSudden structural failure
- contractionReduction in size
deterioration · slide · spiral · worsening · ebb · retreat · stagnation · dip
Move to lower position
- abseilControlled rope descent
- rappelControlled rope descent
- lowerReduce or move downward
- climbAscend using effort
parachute · glide · zipline · skiing · snowboarding · caving · spelunking · bungee
Grow worse over time
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- degenerateDecline morally or physically
decompose · crumble · rot · disintegrate · wither · atrophy · spoil · decline
Decrease in size
- lessenReduce in degree
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
taper · wane · ebb · subside · deflate · attenuate · curtail · contract
Low in spirits
- dispiritedHaving lost heart
- disheartenedLost confidence or hope
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
- glumQuietly dejected
low · depressed · melancholy · despondent · gloomy · blue · somber · morose
descent
Downward slope or lineage
dive · sink · decline · slope · gravity · earthward · plummet · declivity · lowering · sag
recession
Prolonged economic decline
- slumpExtended period of decline
- depressionProlonged low state
- collapseSudden structural failure
contraction · deterioration · slide · spiral · worsening · ebb · retreat · stagnation · dip · drop
descend
Move to lower position
climb · parachute · glide · zipline · skiing · snowboarding · caving · spelunking · bungee · freefall
deteriorate
Grow worse over time
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
degenerate · decompose · crumble · rot · disintegrate · wither · atrophy · spoil · decline · worsen
shrink
Decrease in size
dwindle · taper · wane · ebb · subside · deflate · attenuate · curtail · contract · minimize
dejected
Low in spirits
- dispiritedHaving lost heart
- disheartenedLost confidence or hope
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
glum · low · depressed · melancholy · despondent · gloomy · blue · somber · morose · downhearted
- Downdownhill, downstairs, downstream, downwind, downfall
- face downprone, flat, prostrate, lying flat, floor
- orientationshorizontal, vertical, diagonal, perpendicular, parallel
- directionsnorth, south, east, west, left
- Downward directionsbelow, beneath, under, underneath, downstairs
- location wordshere, there, where, north, south
- downward spiralSelf-reinforcing deterioration
downwards, downwardly, downwash, downward spiral, downward dog