lowering
adjective
low·er·ing ˈlau̇-(ə-)riŋ 
ˈlō-
ˈlō- : dark and threatening : gloomy
rain pouring down from a lowering sky
Synonyms
- beclouded
- clouded
- cloudy
- dull
- hazed
- hazy
- heavy
- overcast
- overclouded
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the lowering sky made us think twice about going to the park we chose our next words carefully, mindful of the lowering expression on his face
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
lowering 1 of 4
adjective
variants also louring
1
as in darkened
covered over by clouds the lowering sky made us think twice about going to the park Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- darkened
- clouded
- overclouded
- hazy
- heavy
- beclouded
- overcast
- cloudy
- dull
- dimmed
- hazed
- overshadowed
- obscured
- blackened
- dim
- bleak
- dusky
- bedimmed
- misty
- obscure
- dulled
- gray
- dismal
- black
- dark
- darksome
- murky
- befogged
- sullen
- sepulchral
- somber
- cheerless
- gloomy
- funereal
- grey
- glum
- sunless
- dreary
- sombre
- desolate
- drear
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clear
- cloudless
- sunlit
- sunny
- dazzling
- brilliant
- lighted
- illuminated
- radiant
- sunshiny
- shiny
- lightened
- lit
- brightened
- illumined
2
as in stern
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance we chose our next words carefully, mindful of the lowering expression on his face Synonyms & Similar Words
- stern
- grim
- intimidating
- forbidding
- fierce
- gruff
- hostile
- intent
- determined
- severe
- hardened
- bleak
- fixed
- ungentle
- rough
- solemn
- dour
- steely
- resolute
- stark
- somber
- dark
- stubborn
- austere
- serious
- rigid
- flinty
- cold
- rugged
- adamant
- stiff
- inimical
- set
- bound
- steadfast
- unchangeable
- resolved
- unfriendly
- unflinching
- unbending
- unrelenting
- uncompromising
- firm
- inhospitable
- purposeful
- unsympathetic
- ironhanded
- unyielding
- black
- obstinate
- melancholy
- immovable
- hard
- inflexible
- obdurate
- implacable
- immutable
- surly
- willful
- mulish
- sullen
- grave
- brooding
- moody
- hardheaded
- wilful
- cheerless
- sulky
- morose
- gloomy
- sobersided
- melancholic
- staid
- unsmiling
- joyless
- weighty
- glum
- sober
- humorless
- sombre
- self-willed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mild
- gentle
- benign
- soft
- soothing
- easy
- nonintimidating
- benignant
- tender
- meek
- mellow
- quiet
- bland
- sweet
- pleasant
- agreeable
- tranquil
- pleasing
- cheerful
- inviting
- bright
- happy
- silly
- glad
- sunny
- mirthful
- frivolous
- merry
- lighthearted
- playful
- goofy
- giddy
- flighty
- scatterbrained
- harebrained
- featherbrained
- light-headed
lowering
2 of 4noun
as in decrease
Synonyms & Similar Words
- decrease
- reduction
- diminution
- shrinkage
- sag
- diminishment
- drop
- decrement
- dip
- deterioration
- degradation
- deflation
- slump
- loss
- falloff
- ebb
- abatement
- downturn
- decline
- slip
- dark age
- declination
- downtrend
- downgrade
- spoiling
- eclipse
- devolution
- degeneration
- degeneracy
- lessening
- downslide
- downfall
- fall
- sunset
- drop-off
- decadence
- rotting
- decay
- disintegration
- crumbling
- nadir
- de-escalation
- decomposition
- declension
- dégringolade
- dissolution
- breakup
- descent
- depreciation
- debasement
- abasement
- destruction
- decimation
- ruin
- ruination
- havoc
- demolition
- demolishment
- desolation
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- growth
- development
- evolution
- increase
- advancement
- flowering
- restoration
- raise
- renewal
- addition
- enhancement
- revitalization
- gain
- increment
- boost
- rise
- heightening
- flourishing
- blossoming
- supplement
- accrual
- accretion
- augmentation
- ascent
- addendum
- upswing
lowering
3 of 4verb (1)
1
as in throwing
to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally workmen slowly lowered the heavy statue into place Synonyms & Similar Words
- throwing
- dropping
- flattening
- depressing
- throwing down
- toppling
- sinking
- leveling
- plopping
- submerging
- fumbling
- levelling
- striking down
- knocking over
- flooring
- knocking down
- immersing
- bobbling
- plunking down
- bungling
- plonking down
- foozling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- raising
- lifting
- picking up
2
as in plunging
to go to a lower level especially abruptly prices of the new type of televisions lowered considerably as competition and sales increased Synonyms & Similar Words
- plunging
- falling
- declining
- dipping
- tumbling
- dropping
- decreasing
- plummeting
- sinking
- descending
- skidding
- crashing
- diving
- diminishing
- lessening
- cratering
- nose-diving
- moderating
- retreating
- subsiding
- drooping
- dwindling
- waning
- ebbing
- tapering off
- receding
- abating
- dying (down)
- de-escalating
- letting up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rising
- lifting
- increasing
- mounting
- ascending
- soaring
- spiking
- arising
- upping
- growing
- expanding
- building
- enlarging
- intensifying
- escalating
- swelling
- accumulating
- burgeoning
- mushrooming
- waxing
- snowballing
- ballooning
- picking up
- bourgeoning
3
as in reducing
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent decided to lower his career ambitions to something more achievable Synonyms & Similar Words
- reducing
- decreasing
- diminishing
- minimizing
- depleting
- lessening
- easing
- slashing
- cutting
- denting
- dropping
- dwindling
- downsizing
- compressing
- downscaling
- shortening
- abating
- knocking down
- shrinking
- curtailing
- trimming
- contracting
- modifying
- de-escalating
- paring
- condensing
- modulating
- clipping
- truncating
- constricting
- nicking
- cutting down
- whittling
- abbreviating
- cropping
- retrenching
- pruning
- moderating
- abridging
- cutting back
- docking
- deflating
- qualifying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increasing
- raising
- expanding
- boosting
- augmenting
- enlarging
- escalating
- amplifying
- extending
- swelling
- inflating
- lengthening
- prolonging
- enhancing
- dilating
- supplementing
- blowing up
- adding (to)
- intensifying
- complementing
- heightening
- aggrandizing
- distending
- elongating
- protracting
- redoubling
4
as in decreasing
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the noise of the jet engine lowered as the plane disappeared in the distance Synonyms & Similar Words
- decreasing
- diminishing
- subsiding
- declining
- easing
- falling
- shrinking
- vanishing
- lessening
- moderating
- tapering
- weakening
- ebbing
- dwindling
- receding
- waning
- falling away
- tapering off
- relenting
- remitting
- evaporating
- phasing down
- palling
- compressing
- abating
- racheting (down)
- letting up
- collapsing
- alleviating
- contracting
- de-escalating
- ratcheting (down)
- dropping (off)
- draining (away)
- dying (away or down or out)
- condensing
- slackening
- constricting
- relaxing
- flagging
- sinking
- giving out
- melting (away)
- deflating
- fading (away)
- slowing (down)
- frittering (away)
- tailing (off)
- petering (out)
- caving (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increasing
- rising
- growing
- expanding
- building
- mounting
- enlarging
- intensifying
- escalating
- soaring
- swelling
- accumulating
- burgeoning
- mushrooming
- snowballing
- waxing
- emerging
- appearing
- ballooning
- picking up
- lengthening
- bourgeoning
- elongating
- distending
- blowing up
- showing up
5
as in discrediting
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes how could you lower yourself by passing off someone else's work as your own? Synonyms & Similar Words
- discrediting
- humiliating
- degrading
- cheapening
- shaming
- disgracing
- embarrassing
- diminishing
- debasing
- minimizing
- dishonoring
- sinking
- insulting
- rattling
- abasing
- humbling
- confusing
- fouling
- demeaning
- taking down
- criticizing
- ridiculing
- discounting
- detracting
- chastening
- smirching
- disparaging
- belittling
- depreciating
- disconcerting
- decrying
- mortifying
- maligning
- confounding
- condemning
- slandering
- discountenancing
- flustering
- fazing
- discomfiting
- defaming
- castigating
- defiling
- affronting
- writing off
- nonplussing
- crying down
- abashing
- denouncing
- nonplusing
- libeling
- censuring
- execrating
- putting down
- bad-mouthing
- libelling
- damning
- reprehending
- reprobating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- elevating
- exalting
- honoring
- citing
- praising
- recognizing
- celebrating
- aggrandizing
- acknowledging
- saluting
- complimenting
- deifying
- boasting
- commending
- raising
- hailing
- applauding
- congratulating
- decorating
- canonizing
- touting
- lauding
- cheering
- lifting
- acclaiming
- eulogizing
- highlighting
- boosting
- promoting
- advancing
- magnifying
- upgrading
- spotlighting
- extolling
- enshrining
- glorifying
- feting
- fêting
- dignifying
- enthroning
- ennobling
- uplifting
- romanticizing
- idealizing
- playing up
- enskying
6
as in sinking
to diminish the price or value of over time, inflation lowers incomes and savings in terms of actual buying power Synonyms & Similar Words
- reducing
- sinking
- attenuating
- cheapening
- devaluing
- downgrading
- shrinking
- depressing
- devaluating
- depreciating
- breaking
- writing down
- writing off
- marking down
- lessening
- debasing
- compressing
- underestimating
- moderating
- demonetizing
- undervaluing
- contracting
- underrating
- dwindling
- downsizing
- underpricing
- deflating
- abridging
- de-escalating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enhancing
- upgrading
- appreciating
- increasing
- inflating
- raising
- marking up
- bloating
- adding
- expanding
- extending
- blowing up
- augmenting
- boosting
- maximizing
- enlarging
- overestimating
- escalating
- heightening
- multiplying
- swelling
- amplifying
- compounding
- dilating
- upping
- overvaluing
- overrating
- overpricing
- ballooning
- aggrandizing
lowering
4 of 4verb (2)
variants also louring
1
as in darkening
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look the sky lowered overhead, threatening a fierce thunderstorm Synonyms & Similar Words
- darkening
- staring
- glowering
- threatening
- frowning
- glaring
- glooming
- steaming
- scowling
- petting
- angering
- brooding
- intimidating
- sulking
- bristling
- raging
- menacing
- pouting
- storming
- fuming
- moping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- brightening
- lightening
- cheering (up)
- perking (up)
2
as in staring
to look with anger or disapproval the motorist lowered at the jerk who had cut in front of her Synonyms & Similar Words
- staring
- frowning
- scowling
- glaring
- glowering
- glooming
- gazing
- staring daggers
- grimacing
- snarling
- growling
- looking daggers
- sneering
- ogling
- gaping
- sniggering
- sulking
- pouting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smiling
- grinning
- beaming
- starry campion
- starry flounder
- starry grasswort
- starry magnolia
- starry puffball
- starry ray
- starry rockfish
- starry-eyed
- stars
- stars (in)
- Stars and Bars
- Stars and Stripes
- stars in
- stars in one's eyes
- starshake
- starshine
- starship
- starships
- starshoot
- starshot
- starstone
- starstruck
- start
- start a family
- start a new trend