as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life
an intractable drug habit proved to be her sad undoing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in paralyzing
to deprive of courage or confidence
the sudden shriek undid the campers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfastening
to disengage the knotted parts of
undo a tangled shoelace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the mere mention of the home invasion still had the power to undo her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of undoing
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Opponents of the redrawn congressional district compared the undoing of the majority-Black district as a throwback to the Jim Crow era of racial discrimination in the Deep South.
—CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
Lyonnes should have done more with their chances, something that has often proved their undoing this season.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Noun
And the undoing of the normative tropes of, like, Sex is this act that starts with foreplay and ends with the male climax!
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Opponents of the redrawn congressional district compared the undoing of the majority-Black district as a throwback to the Jim Crow era of racial discrimination in the Deep South.
—CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Verb
Several other African nations are still recovering from a post-pandemic shock that sent debt burdens soaring, and inflationary pressures triggered by the Iran war now risk undoing that progress.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
Lyonnes should have done more with their chances, something that has often proved their undoing this season.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undoing
Noun
-
The second episode… [is about] the fall of the group, precipitating [John Pearson’s] leaving, the downfall.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
-
That commodification of wildlife would lead to the downfall of nearly every large mammal in North America.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The disease can be paralyzing, or even fatal.—
Ciara McCarthy
June 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
-
Moorehead has followed Clark’s story from 2000, when the running back for Eisenhower High School suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury in a game through his death in 2012.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Transforming the cabin from sitting to sleeping is a group effort that includes unpacking the ladder (usually stowed beneath the seats with the luggage), unfastening the upper bunks, and making the beds.—
Emily Manthei,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead, the reviews were largely muted, with analysts not bothering to adjust their revenue estimates for 2027 or 2028, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
-
That appears to be bothering people, as the broadcast noted some pointed conversations among the Spanish team during the hydration break.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Israeli troops occupy more than 10% of Lebanese territory, leaving a trail of destruction that has seen swaths of the country’s south all but razed.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
There are those who would write her off, and perhaps her timidity before America’s facilitation of Gaza’s destruction has earned that dismissal.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The Nationals took the lead for good in the seventh inning when rookie John Klein allowed a solo home run to Keibert Ruiz, untying a game that pinch hitter Josh Bell had knotted up a half-inning earlier.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition, intense, exciting soccer matches can be distracting and lead to overlooking subtle signs of dehydration.—
Lisa Fitzpatrick,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Finally, toolbars are becoming more consistent, and the distracting icons in drop-down menus are quietly disappearing.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undoing. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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