downfall

noun

down·​fall ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl 

1

a

: a sudden fall (as from power)

b

: a fall (as of snow or rain) especially when sudden or heavy

2

: something that causes a downfall (as of a person)

gambling was his downfall

downfallen

ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯ-lən 

adjective

Synonyms of downfall

• death
• destruction
• undoing
• ruination
• curse
• kiss of death
• ruin

Examples of downfall in a Sentence

Their downfall was the result of several bad decisions.

Bad decision-making was their downfall.

Recent Examples on the Web

That would be his downfall on Monday, too, hitting his putt a little too hard. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026

And Hinch was jeered again after Jones struck out, bookending the booing and showing Tigers fans are perturbed over the team’s downfall. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026

The second episode… [is about] the fall of the group, precipitating [John Pearson’s] leaving, the downfall. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 June 2026

The steep drop in the housing market and the resulting downfall of the mortgage industry led to a credit crisis that brought the economy into a recession. — Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for downfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

downfall

noun

down·​fall ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl 

1

: fall sense 2c

especially : a sudden or heavy fall (as of rain)

2

: a fall (as from power, happiness, or high position) or a cause of such a fall

downfallen

-ˌfȯ-lən 

adjective