undoing

noun

un·​do·​ing ˌən-ˈdü-iŋ 

1

: an act of loosening : unfastening

2

: ruin

also : a cause of ruin

greed was to prove his undoing

3

: annulment, reversal

Synonyms of undoing

• downfall
• destruction

Examples of undoing in a Sentence

My quick temper was my undoing.

His quick temper helped lead to his undoing.

The incident resulted in her undoing.

Recent Examples on the Web

And there's constant like, undoing of images. —Outside Online, 21 Jan. 2026

McDermott’s failure to reach the Super Bowl with Josh Allen at quarterback became his undoing. —John Wawrow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026

Season 2 moves viewers to Europe to follow Italian surgeon and medical researcher Paolo Macchiarini (Édgar Ramírez), whose unauthorized experiments on his patients became his undoing. —Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Jan. 2026

This quality, though, might have led to his undoing. —Graham Womack updated January 15, Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undoing

• accruing
• canoeing
• construing
• eschewing
• previewing
• pursuing
• renewing
• reviewing
• shampooing
• subduing
• tattooing
• unscrewing

Kids Definition

undoing

noun

un·​do·​ing ˌən-ˈdü-iŋ 

1

: an act or instance of unfastening

2

a

: ruin entry 1 sense 1

parental neglect helped lead to their undoing

b

: a cause of ruin

my quick temper was my undoing

3

: reversal, annulment