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
Thompson; Hoss adds a blaze-of-glory brio to Eileen’s downfall; Thompson; a visual palette that prizes both old-school glamour and pomo maximalism; and Thompson.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
At the same time, Congress didn’t establish any federal standard for sports betting—an omission that would later contribute to PASPA’s downfall.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Miran’s downfall arrives through a mix of strategy and desperation.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Dern defends takedowns at 25 percent, and her comfort level on the ground could be her downfall if Jandiroba gets on top of her every round.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
At the same time, Congress didn’t establish any federal standard for sports betting—an omission that would later contribute to PASPA’s downfall.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Miran’s downfall arrives through a mix of strategy and desperation.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Dern defends takedowns at 25 percent, and her comfort level on the ground could be her downfall if Jandiroba gets on top of her every round.
—Brett Appley, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
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The Little Rock man who, police say, crashed while fleeing from an Arkansas State Police trooper last week now faces first-degree murder counts in the death of two teenage passengers, authorities said Wednesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In short, at the heart within the kernel of concern for memory is a concern for death.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Some of it is also related to the age and deterioration of much of the grid, which now requires rebuilding.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The deterioration in the labor market has been concentrated in payroll employment, which is the [datapoint] that is the most susceptible to demographic and immigration changes.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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As minister of economy and the public face of unpopular government policies that ended up impoverishing the population further – including a botched monetary reform in 2021 that fueled unprecedented levels of inflation – Gil’s demise was cheered by many inside Cuba.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
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Hektoria is a relatively small glacier by Antarctic standards, and its partial demise won’t cost the planet much in terms of sea level rise, Scambos said.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
-
For one night, under cold rain and flickering red lights, the noise faded.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There are two questions Gazans have usually asked each other since the start of this campaign of unrelenting and systematic destruction, starvation, displacement and mass killing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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But catastrophes also tend to reveal deficits in society, and the patterns of destruction and abandonment that followed the fire—which have roots in America’s past and its present—tell us something about the country’s future, too.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Labbate is head of the Climate Mitigation Unit and is global team leader of the UN-REDD Programme at UNEP, which is aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and land degradation.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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In contrast, Mitsubishi’s PHEVs showed noticeable degradation even at relatively low mileages, though this decline tended to level off later in the vehicle’s life.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Working for a massive company can come with its own ups and downs.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Nov. 2025
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Because the Vikings found themselves in suboptimal downs and distances, and because the Ravens snatched the lead early in the third quarter, the Vikings found themselves in the wrong game script, again having to come from behind.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
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Rising sea levels and relentless storms are erasing land faster than locals – or officials – can respond.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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