1
as in death
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life
an insatiable love of money would be their downfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demise
a loss of status
an ill-advised speech that proved to be the cause of the candidate's downfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
we ducked under an overhang to shelter ourselves from the sudden downfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downfall
The safety of 23andMe's dataset has drawn considerable concern among consumers, lawmakers, and regulators amid the company's downfall.
—
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
While from an emotional standpoint, falling in the NFL draft was likely hard on Sanders, the real downfall of being drafted much later than expected is the loss of money.
—Seth Quinn, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
As a result, the Germans were caught off guard when Allied forces invaded Sicily, which helped further Benito Mussolini’s downfall and was considered a major turning point in World War II.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 May 2025
What looks like productivity is often the downfall of those who refuse to delegate.
—Charles Fallon, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
While from an emotional standpoint, falling in the NFL draft was likely hard on Sanders, the real downfall of being drafted much later than expected is the loss of money.
—Seth Quinn, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
As a result, the Germans were caught off guard when Allied forces invaded Sicily, which helped further Benito Mussolini’s downfall and was considered a major turning point in World War II.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 May 2025
What looks like productivity is often the downfall of those who refuse to delegate.
—Charles Fallon, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
-
For example, if an elderly person had ingested cyanide, the cause of death might have been harder to detect.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
There’s no music, either, to soften or ennoble proceedings, only the indifferent murmur of weather over the startling debris of human conflict, or the slow creak of a galleon on lapping waters as sailors are sent cruelly to their deaths.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
28 May 2025
Noun
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They are then transported to the Berkhamsted conservation center, where their condition is examined for deterioration.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Nationwide, the ramifications of deportation for these key citizens will affect all of us, which can lead to deterioration of our healthcare system, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home health aides, etc.—
Rachel Blumberg,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Republicans might also remember that the 1798 restrictions on free speech/press played an important role in the election of President Jefferson and the effective demise of the Federalist Party.—
John A. Ragosta,
Baltimore Sun,
27 May 2025
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While some may still resist the demise of relatable Season 1 Shauna, both Lynskey and Nélisse relish the chance to explore her descent further as Showtime’s just renewed the series for Season 4.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
Temperatures hover in the high 80s to low 90s, with rain chances at 60% across the entire region.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
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Amid a chilly rain at Muirfield Village on Friday, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler began his round with a solid birdie look from 23 feet away on the par-4 1st.—
Jack Milko,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
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What makes that even scarier is that Florida’s road record — an .800 win percentage matched by only 17 other teams in the modern era — actually undersells the destruction.—
The Athletic NHL Staff,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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The book also examines the growing movement to grant legal rights to rivers as a way to prevent their destruction by corporations and governments, which are themselves protected by a vast array of legal rights.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Violence, corruption and environmental degradation have saturated the avocado trade there, causing the U.S. to briefly stop imports and senators to agitate for action by the federal government.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
-
These trade shifts are causing environmental degradation.—
Simi Thambi,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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The next four seasons reflected the ups and downs of a general manager learning on the job and building a roster with an emphasis on homegrown players.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
-
The trick is to stay invested since these ups and downs average out to growth over time.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2025
-
The Independence tornado is the only one that the weather service has been able to confirm from Tuesday’s storm.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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