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
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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 rise of social media would eventually help facilitate DeGeneres’ downfall.
—
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
The bullpen needs help and could easily be the Yankees downfall in a short playoff series.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The broadcast is widely regarded as the deciding factor in McCarthy’s downfall.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
His likability proved to be his downfall.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
The bullpen needs help and could easily be the Yankees downfall in a short playoff series.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The broadcast is widely regarded as the deciding factor in McCarthy’s downfall.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
His likability proved to be his downfall.
—Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
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In 2023, there were seven positive cases and two deaths, and there were three positive cases and one death in 2022.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
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The initial air date would have been less than a month after Ozzy’s death, which came two weeks after the rock icon performed his final show, the all-star Back to the Beginning blow-out, at his home soccer stadium, Villa Park, in his hometown of Birmingham, England.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mahama’s installations, which say something about societal deterioration, also dramatize the country’s inability to sustain robust funding in the arts or technology in its postindependence years.—
Edna Bonhomme,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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Indeed, September’s deterioration doesn’t signal the first time the indicator has entered recession territory—it’s been there since February 2025—but marks a further step away from a healthy outlook over a prolonged period of time.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Spotify has also hastened the demise of the album, as well as a world where the final product is used to promote the tour, rather than vice versa, alongside other pieces of merchandise like a T-shirt or poster.—
Roy Trakin,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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That can cause all sorts of problems for the tree, often leading to its untimely demise.—
Viveka Neveln,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Across Hispaniola, Jamaica, and portions of central and southern Cuba, an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
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At least four people were dead after heavy rain throughout much of central Arizona resulted in flash flooding in metro Phoenix, along with the rural communities of Globe-Miami, according to emergency responders.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Wildcats hold a 10-8 edge over the Horned Frogs in their all-time series, including a 41-3 destruction of TCU in 2023 at Manhattan in the teams’ last meeting.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Cyrus — who married Hemsworth, 35, the following month after the destruction, before later separating in August 2019 — was left to grieve the many memories that were lost.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For Parisian Jews in 1941 and 1942, these thefts were compounded by a cascade of other degradations, including the loss of distinguished positions at the Sorbonne, in banking, science, and medicine, with more devastation to come.—
Christopher C. Gorham
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
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Zanardi’s statement provides a glimpse into the way detentions have been conducted as well as the powerful degradation of trust in the system that has led up to two-thirds of immigrants scheduled for hearings to skip them in fear of arrest.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Cincinnati got the ball first to start the night and marched 62 yards over 12 plays, picking up four first downs and converting a pair of third downs before settling for a field goal.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
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Universities go out of their way to seem eternal, but higher education is an industry like any other, with its share of ups and downs.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This storm is currently moving west toward the Bahamas, although it is expected to veer north toward Bermuda before reaching the archipelago.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
26 Sep. 2025
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At least 71 indirect deaths were linked to the storm, including 23 in South Carolina, 21 in North Carolina, 16 in Florida, nine in Georgia and one each in Tennessee and Virginia, according to data compiled by the National Hurricane Center.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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