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
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
On the other hand, the lack of popular apps on the Vision Pro may have contributed to its steep initial downfall.
—
Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
Unlike those of us who grew up in the ‘80s, kids now are unlikely to be granted free rein of the neighborhood from dawn until dusk—and that’s where screens can be the downfall of an unscheduled summer.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 22 Apr. 2024
This decision may lead to Johnson's downfall as speaker of the House of Representatives as Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who was ousted from the position last year, was voted out of his position after a similar reliance on Democrats to pass crucial legislation.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
And a look inside the downfall of the organization that tried to develop an electoral rival to Trump and Biden.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
What had been his strength, though, became his downfall Saturday.
—Dave Skretta, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Though his downfall, involving nitrous oxide, makes for the show’s most authentically unnerving scene, the character is mostly played for laughs.
—Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Kindness can lead to your downfall (Cedric Diggory).
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
But the downfall of such a high-profile recycling operation casts a long shadow over the realism of those goals.
—Clara Hernanz Lizarraga, Fortune Europe, 12 Apr. 2024
Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
Unlike those of us who grew up in the ‘80s, kids now are unlikely to be granted free rein of the neighborhood from dawn until dusk—and that’s where screens can be the downfall of an unscheduled summer.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 22 Apr. 2024
This decision may lead to Johnson's downfall as speaker of the House of Representatives as Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who was ousted from the position last year, was voted out of his position after a similar reliance on Democrats to pass crucial legislation.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
And a look inside the downfall of the organization that tried to develop an electoral rival to Trump and Biden.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
What had been his strength, though, became his downfall Saturday.
—Dave Skretta, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Though his downfall, involving nitrous oxide, makes for the show’s most authentically unnerving scene, the character is mostly played for laughs.
—Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Kindness can lead to your downfall (Cedric Diggory).
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
But the downfall of such a high-profile recycling operation casts a long shadow over the realism of those goals.
—Clara Hernanz Lizarraga, Fortune Europe, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downfall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near downfall
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downfall. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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