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

Reform handed the ruling Labour Party a stunning defeat in local elections earlier this year, contributing to the downfall of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 7 July 2026

But the Explorer’s acceleration is loud, prompting one of the vehicle’s few engine downfalls. — James Raia, Mercury News, 5 July 2026

Regime Change reads like an account of the crescendo and operatic downfall of Trump; even the accumulation of details about his bathroom preferences somehow feels like a final degradation. — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

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