1
as in ruins
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 deteriorations
a change to a lower state or level
the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demises
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 rains
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 downfalls
What appears to be a series of dramatic personal downfalls is in fact part of a broader pattern shaped by the country’s political system.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 May 2026
Lushly photographed and boosted by a few killer tracks, Daisy Jones & the Six delivers the lurid delights and downfalls of a satisfying behind-the-music tale.
—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Now, as crypto analysts speculate whether further downfalls are in Bitcoin’s future, crypto bros are struggling to maintain a cohesive narrative in the face of such epic volatility.
—
Joe Wilkins Published Jan 29,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
One of the Miami Hurricanes’ biggest downfalls last season was their lack of cornerback depth, and how quickly that was exposed as soon as injuries hit.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2026
The soggy weather is expected to continue through Tuesday with the heaviest downfalls tapering off by midday Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
—
Deborah Netburn,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Jan. 2026
With a resurgence happening, Schoen's downfalls are becoming more apparent.
—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Some of those mistakes eventually cause their downfalls.
—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
21 Aug. 2025
The lack of effective clock management was one of the downfalls of the Bears’ last coach, Matt Eberflus.
—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Aug. 2025
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 May 2026
Lushly photographed and boosted by a few killer tracks, Daisy Jones & the Six delivers the lurid delights and downfalls of a satisfying behind-the-music tale.
—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Now, as crypto analysts speculate whether further downfalls are in Bitcoin’s future, crypto bros are struggling to maintain a cohesive narrative in the face of such epic volatility.
—
Joe Wilkins Published Jan 29,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
One of the Miami Hurricanes’ biggest downfalls last season was their lack of cornerback depth, and how quickly that was exposed as soon as injuries hit.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2026
The soggy weather is expected to continue through Tuesday with the heaviest downfalls tapering off by midday Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
—
Deborah Netburn,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Jan. 2026
With a resurgence happening, Schoen's downfalls are becoming more apparent.
—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Some of those mistakes eventually cause their downfalls.
—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
21 Aug. 2025
The lack of effective clock management was one of the downfalls of the Bears’ last coach, Matt Eberflus.
—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfalls
Noun
-
Unable to leave, residents rely on each other In another neighborhood, a view of the brilliant deep blue of the Mediterranean, a block away, framed the ruins of what had been a famous creamery – Karrit Ice Cream.
-
And then the next issue became the funeral, instead of just Scott and Jean hanging out in the ruins.
Noun
-
Similar deteriorations took place in Tuscany and in Naples.
Noun
-
SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company Musk founded in 2002, has endured a few more fiery demises of the mammoth Starship rocket since that explosive debut.
-
No reason was provided for the shops’ demises.
Noun
-
The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur battered parts of the southeastern United States with drenching rains and strong wind on Thursday, tearing through buildings, flooding homes and launching water rescues along the Gulf Coast.
-
Heavy rains and thunderstorms were likely to develop across the lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast, forecasters said.
Noun
-
There are kills aplenty and deaths of profound significance.
-
The recent deaths of three hikers in Grand Canyon National Park has prompted the National Park Service to remind park-goers of safety precautions.
Noun
-
Key parameters such as time to recover (TTR), revenue at risk, lead times, OTIF and service-level degradations can be evaluated and compared across mitigation options.
-
The answer is not much—Fennell makes explicit, via sadomasochism, the power differentials and emotional degradations that are so often ambiguous in the original.
Noun
-
After several players, including Addison Barger and Anthony Santander, dealt with setbacks, Daulton Varsho recently left a game with left wrist discomfort, adding to the team's woes.
-
Retirement often arrives suddenly and unexpectedly, triggered by health setbacks or corporate downsizing.
Noun
-
The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year.
-
Farther south, including Colorado Springs and Pueblo, the severe threat may last later Tuesday night as storms move southeast across the plains.
Cite this Entry
“Downfalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfalls. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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