Synonyms of downfall

downfall

noun

ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl 

1

as in death

something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life

an insatiable love of money would be their downfall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• death
• destruction
• undoing
• ruination
• curse
• kiss of death
• ruin
• bane
• torment
• tragic flaw
• Achilles' heel

2

as in deterioration

a change to a lower state or level

the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deterioration
• degradation
• decline
• declination
• descent
• decadence
• destruction
• fall
• eclipse
• decrease
• ebb
• degeneration
• degeneracy
• devolution
• downgrade
• reduction
• declension
• dissolution
• decay
• dégringolade
• drop
• disintegration
• loss
• breakup
• decomposition
• crumbling
• sunset
• dark age
• spoiling
• dip
• slump
• nadir
• ruination
• rotting
• debasement
• ruin
• depreciation
• havoc
• demolition
• decimation
• shrinkage
• diminution
• downturn
• lowering
• abasement
• lessening
• deflation
• diminishment
• sag
• falloff
• downslide
• demolishment
• slip
• desolation
• downtrend
• abatement
• decrement
• drop-off
• de-escalation

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• development
• growth
• evolution
• ascent
• advancement
• upswing
• flowering
• restoration
• renewal
• increase
• revitalization
• addition
• enhancement
• gain
• blossoming
• flourishing
• augmentation
• boost
• increment
• raise
• supplement
• accrual
• accretion
• heightening
• addendum

3

as in demise

a loss of status

an ill-advised speech that proved to be the cause of the candidate's downfall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

4

as in rain

a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity

we ducked under an overhang to shelter ourselves from the sudden downfall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rain
• storm
• rainfall
• downpour
• rainstorm
• deluge
• wet
• precipitation
• cloudburst
• weather
• thunderstorm
• shower
• thundershower

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mist
• spit
• drizzle
• sprinkle
• scud
• mizzle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of downfall

Now playing in theaters, Clayface stars Harries as rising actor Matt Hagen, who suffers gruesome wounds after the brutal mafioso Szabo (Dencik) cuts up his face, resulting in the downfall of his career. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Which feels perfectly symbolic of, well, the downfall of the team Mahomes captains. — Sam McDowell 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026

Ian Papautsky, a microfluidics researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago, says that Theranos’s public downfall and time in the spotlight create a strong case for validating scientific findings. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Nearby Ilwaco has also been on the receiving end of the industrial downfall. — Saige Miller, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026