downfall

1 something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life an insatiable love of money would be their downfall Synonyms death, destruction, ruin, ruination, undoing Related Words bane, curse, torment; Achilles' heel, tragic flaw Phrases kiss of death

2 a change to a lower state or level the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire Synonyms decadence, declension, declination, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, dégringolade, descent, deterioration, devolution, decline, downgrade, ebb, eclipse, fallRelated Words dark age, nadir, sunset; decay, rotting, spoiling; breakup, crumbling, decomposition, disintegration, dissolution; abasement, debasement; depreciation, lessening; decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, destruction, havoc, ruin, ruination; abatement, decrease, decrement, de-escalation, deflation, diminishment, diminution, dip, downslide, downtrend, downturn, drop, drop-off, falloff, loss, lowering, reduction, sag, shrinkage, slip, slumpNear Antonyms advancement, development, evolution, growth; blossoming, flourishing, flowering; renewal, restoration, revitalization; heightening; accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, enhancement, gain, increase, increment, raise, supplementAntonyms ascent, rise, upswing

3 a loss of status an ill-advised speech that proved to be the cause of the candidate's downfall Synonyms decline, dégringolade, demise, descent, down, comedown, fall, flameout, GötterdämmerungRelated Words breakdown, burnout, collapse, crash, meltdown, ruin, undoing; defeat, disappointment, reversal, setback; bottom, nadir; abasement, disgrace, humiliationNear Antonyms advance, headway, progress; flower, heyday, primeAntonyms aggrandizement, ascent, exaltation, rise, up

4 a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity we ducked under an overhang to shelter ourselves from the sudden downfall Synonyms cloudburst, deluge, rain, downpour, rainfall, rainstorm, storm, wetRelated Words precipitation, shower; thundershower, thunderstorm, weatherNear Antonyms drizzle, mist, mizzle, scud, spit, sprinkle