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
Relevance
2
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downfall
Her improbable success and unlikely downfall, and what her story says about belief and self-invention and fame, are in the lifeblood of Los Angeles.
—
Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
One of the downfalls Oklahoma City had last year was production from the supporting cast.
—Nick Crain, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The downfall wasn’t immediate, however, as Louise—like many of Joe’s love interests—wrestled with her own romantic feelings for him before coming to the realization about who Joe really was.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 24 Apr. 2025
Benitez’s election as pope amid the downfall of his brethren reflects the reality of human complexity — there could never have been a candidate for supreme pontiff without flaws.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
One of the downfalls Oklahoma City had last year was production from the supporting cast.
—Nick Crain, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The downfall wasn’t immediate, however, as Louise—like many of Joe’s love interests—wrestled with her own romantic feelings for him before coming to the realization about who Joe really was.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 24 Apr. 2025
Benitez’s election as pope amid the downfall of his brethren reflects the reality of human complexity — there could never have been a candidate for supreme pontiff without flaws.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
-
Police say that early in the morning of Nov. 13, 2022, the four college students were stabbed to death at an off-campus house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, where three of them lived.—
Jorge L. Ortiz,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Comments Final Destination series producer Craig Perry breaks down every death scene across the franchise in an exclusive video for Entertainment Weekly.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Sulzberger writes passionately about the existential threats facing a free press, from economic collapse to political intimidation, and how journalism must stand as a bulwark in a time of profound civic deterioration.—
Jessica Sibley,
Time,
19 May 2025
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On modern iPhones, Apple has a feature called Charge Limit that works as an opt-in feature limiting your phone to 80% charge to help reduce the deterioration of the battery.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
13 May 2025
Noun
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For all the obituaries written about ESG in the past year, reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.—
Daniel Sutter,
National Review,
16 May 2025
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This is not the time to issue a prediction of demise, not particularly close to it.—
Martin Rogers,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Visit after a hard rain for the most dramatic cascades.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
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After things were shut down Monday and the additional rain, another delay is never fun.—
Savannah Leigh Richardson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 May 2025
Noun
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Now, some say artificial intelligence is ushering in a new era of creative destruction – but what exactly is being creatively destroyed, and what’s replacing it?—
Joe McKendrick,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
Significant destruction was reported in Grinnell, Kansas, where homes were flattened, roads blocked and vehicles overturned.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Using her celebrity, Tabei was also an activist for environmental change in high-altitude regions, having grown appalled by the degradation of fragile mountain glaciers that was being caused by the mountaineering industry.—
Jenny Hall,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
-
To others, a symbol of degradation and objectification.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
Noun
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He has been married to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star since 2020 and the two have had their ups and downs over the years.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
21 May 2025
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Inconsistent Revenue: Spiky cash flow, one-off projects, and seasonal ups and downs create unpredictability.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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However, recent storms and outcomes make the case for an uncomfortable, unfamiliar reality.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Then, on Sunday night, much of the state will see the highest chance for severe storms, said Condry.—
Amir Mahmoud,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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