Synonyms of demise

demise 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈmīz 

1

as in death

the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities

inherited all of the estate upon the sudden demise of his grandfather

Synonyms & Similar Words

• death
• fate
• passing
• doom
• dissolution
• end
• decease
• grave
• exit
• expiration
• destruction
• suicide
• passage
• sleep
• curtains
• expiry
• assassination
• quietus
• great divide
• fatality
• ending
• casualty
• martyrdom
• execution
• annihilation
• extermination
• killing
• slaughter
• self-destruction
• ruin
• massacre
• self-slaughter
• self-murder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• birth
• existence
• life
• creation
• rise
• nativity
• genesis
• origination

2

as in termination

the act of ceasing to exist

the gradual demise of the Roman Empire over the course of several centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

• death
• termination
• dissolution
• destruction
• cessation
• dispersion
• expiration
• ending
• end
• passing
• expiry
• conclusion
• doom
• discontinuance
• suicide
• shutdown
• decease
• stoppage
• close
• halt
• lapse
• annihilation
• ruin
• finish
• stop
• shutoff
• surcease
• quietus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beginning
• creation
• birth
• onset
• existence
• morning
• start
• inception
• genesis
• dawn
• commencement
• launch
• outset
• alpha
• prolongation
• persistence
• incipiency
• incipience
• institution
• initiation
• inauguration
• origination

3

as in downfall

a loss of status

after her demise as the doyenne of New York society, the mere mention of her name was regarded as a faux pas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• downfall
• down
• setback
• decline
• fall
• collapse
• disappointment
• reversal
• defeat
• flameout
• comedown
• breakdown
• descent
• dégringolade
• undoing
• crash
• Götterdämmerung
• humiliation
• burnout
• meltdown
• ruin
• disgrace
• nadir
• abasement
• bottom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• up
• progress
• ascent
• advance
• exaltation
• aggrandizement
• headway
• flower
• prime
• heyday

demise

2 of 2

verb

as in to die

to stop living

our much beloved, recently demised leader

Synonyms & Similar Words

• die
• fall
• perish
• end
• succumb
• exit
• pass (on)
• depart
• disappear
• pass away
• expire
• check out
• buy it
• decease
• part
• step out
• go
• fade
• kick off
• kick in
• croak
• drop
• snuff it
• peg out
• flatline
• pop off
• bite the dust
• give up the ghost
• kick the bucket
• fail
• conk (out)
• dry up
• consume
• predecease

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• live
• come to
• breathe
• revive
• be
• exist
• linger
• flourish
• thrive
• prosper
• subsist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of demise

Noun

Swift’s demise was hastened by an increase in solar activity over the past couple of years as the sun reached the peak of its 11-year cycle in 2024. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Starting some two years ago, high-energy particles from heavier-than-usual solar activity puffed up this part of Earth’s atmosphere, hastening Swift’s demise. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

Verb

The full ramifications of FTX’s insolvency and demise remain unclear, but many investors who had stored cryptocurrency on the exchange stand to lose a great deal. — Mia Taylor, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2022

According to James Sinclair, director of marine archaeology for the AllenX Maravillas project, the researchers are delving into the mystery of the ship’s demise by thoroughly mapping all of their finds. — Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2022