Downsizing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈdau̇n-ˌsīz/ down·size

Meaning & Definition of Downsizing

Downsizing (verb)

  1. to reduce in size; especially, to design or produce in smaller size
  2. to fire (employees) for the purpose of downsizing a business
  3. to undergo a reduction in size

Downsizing (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in firing, sack

    similar: bird (chiefly British), boot, bum's rush, firing, heave-ho, sack, pink slip, closing, shutdown, ax, discharge, dismissal, furlough, layoff, redundancy (chiefly British), shakeout, shake-up
    opposite: callback, recall, reemployment, rehire, rehiring

Downsizing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

    "the company downsized its overseas operations in an attempt to cut costs"

    similar: abating, decreasing, de-escalating, denting, depleting, diminishing, downscaling, dropping, dwindling, easing, knocking down, lessening, lowering, reducing
    related: compressing, condensing, constricting, contracting, abbreviating, abridging, clipping, cropping, curtailing, cutting, cutting back, cutting down, docking, nicking, paring, pruning, retrenching, shortening, slashing, trimming, truncating, whittling, deflating, shrinking, minimizing, moderating, modifying, modulating, qualifying
    opposite: aggrandizing, amplifying, augmenting, boosting, enlarging, escalating, expanding, increasing, raising
    near: blowing up, dilating, distending, inflating, swelling, elongating, extending, lengthening, prolonging, protracting, adding (to), complementing, supplementing, enhancing, heightening, intensifying, redoubling

Related Entry: Downsize (verb)

Downsize is a different word from Downsizing. The synonyms below are for downsize, not for downsizing.

  1. to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

    "the company downsized its overseas operations in an attempt to cut costs"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decrease, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle, deflate, shrink, minimize, moderate, modify, modulate, qualify
    opposite: aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise
    near: blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, add (to), complement, supplement, enhance, heighten, intensify, redouble

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Downsizing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Downsizing:

Chiefly British: bird, redundancy
boot, bum's rush, firing, heave-ho, sack, pink slip, closing, shutdown, ax, discharge, dismissal, furlough, layoff, shakeout, shake-up, abating, decreasing, de-escalating, denting, depleting, diminishing, downscaling, dropping, dwindling, easing, knocking down, lessening, lowering, reducing

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Downsizing

Words with the opposite meaning of Downsizing:

callback, recall, reemployment, rehire, rehiring, aggrandizing, amplifying, augmenting, boosting, enlarging, escalating, expanding, increasing, raising

Related Words for Downsizing

compressing, condensing, constricting, contracting, abbreviating, abridging, clipping, cropping, curtailing, cutting, cutting back, cutting down, docking, nicking, paring, pruning, retrenching, shortening, slashing, trimming, truncating, whittling, deflating, shrinking, minimizing, moderating, modifying, modulating, qualifying

Near Antonyms of Downsizing

blowing up, dilating, distending, inflating, swelling, elongating, extending, lengthening, prolonging, protracting, adding (to), complementing, supplementing, enhancing, heightening, intensifying, redoubling

Word Forms of Downsizing

Inflections: downsized, downsizes

Origin & Etymology of Downsizing

First known use: 1975t

Frequently Asked Questions about Downsizing

What does "Downsizing" mean?

"Downsizing" means to reduce in size; especially, to design or produce in smaller size. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to reduce in size; especially, to design or produce in smaller size. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Downsizing"?

Other words for "Downsizing" include bird, boot, bum's rush, firing, heave-ho, sack, pink slip and closing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Downsizing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Downsizing"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Downsizing". Common alternatives include bird, boot, bum's rush, firing, heave-ho, sack, pink slip, closing, shutdown and ax.

What is the opposite of "Downsizing"?

Antonyms of "Downsizing" include callback, recall, reemployment, rehire, rehiring, aggrandizing, amplifying and augmenting. Near antonyms include blowing up, dilating, distending and inflating.

How do you use "Downsizing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Downsizing" in a sentence: "the company downsized its overseas operations in an attempt to cut costs".

Is "Downsizing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Downsizing" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Downsizing"?

"Downsizing" is pronounced /ˈdau̇n-ˌsīz/ and divided into syllables as down·size.

What is the origin of the word "Downsizing"?

First known use: 1975t.