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

But the Eagles’ success with threes might have been their downfall. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026

The rise and fall of Urban Communities Outlier pieced together the events that led to Urban Communities’ downfall largely through court records and filings at the Wayne County Register of Deeds. —Aaron Mondry, Freep.com, 8 Jan. 2026

Demonstrators have been calling for the Iranian regime's downfall and systemic change as a first step to reclaiming freedom and dignity. —Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026

Even moments of capture or downfall adhered to this grammar, carefully staged to communicate rupture and finality. —Debbie Millman, Time, 7 Jan. 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