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

If the 2025 Ravens’ undoing is the team’s struggle in the trenches, DeCosta will deservedly bear the criticism for not doing more in the offseason to create more depth and also not adding more at the trade deadline. —Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025

That bandage, which Smith was made to wear around their healing torso, wound up to be the undoing of the whole ordeal. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025

That was just the beginning of what would become the undoing of a family dynasty. —Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

Stella’s undoing wasn’t a spiral contained to Season 4, though. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025

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