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

Which feels perfectly symbolic of, well, the downfall of the team Mahomes captains. — Sam McDowell 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026

Ian Papautsky, a microfluidics researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago, says that Theranos’s public downfall and time in the spotlight create a strong case for validating scientific findings. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Nearby Ilwaco has also been on the receiving end of the industrial downfall. — Saige Miller, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

This latest development in Andrew and Fergie’s downfall follows other reports indicating bad blood between them. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 10 Oct. 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