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

Instead, a not-elderly man a few rows away—perhaps even more disturbed by the tale of Phyllis’s downfall than I—became convulsed in a seizure. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

The team did have some questionable losses, which have been their downfall over the past few seasons. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Thematic methodologies have been one of the downfalls of contemporary museology (and art history) generally, a crisis of collective memory and the historical imagination overall. — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

But his meteoric ascent is followed by an equally spectacular downfall as addiction, paranoia, law enforcement, and his deteriorating relationship with Colombian drug lord Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar) begin closing in around him. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 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