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
Outside Online, 21 Jan. 2026
McDermott’s failure to reach the Super Bowl with Josh Allen at quarterback became his undoing.
—John Wawrow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2026
Its stock has experienced drops exceeding 30% within a period of less than two months on as many as four distinct occasions in recent years, erasing billions in market capitalization and undoing substantial profits in a single correction.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Noun
And there's constant like, undoing of images.
—Outside Online, 21 Jan. 2026
McDermott’s failure to reach the Super Bowl with Josh Allen at quarterback became his undoing.
—John Wawrow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
Kraft Heinz is preparing to break up later this year, undoing much of the merger forged more than a decade ago by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and private equity firm 3G Capital.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2026
Its stock has experienced drops exceeding 30% within a period of less than two months on as many as four distinct occasions in recent years, erasing billions in market capitalization and undoing substantial profits in a single correction.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undoing
Noun
-
In Martin’s books, the tourney was the catalyst for the downfall of House Targaryen.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Haman’s downfall is not orchestrated by armies.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Analysts say the result could mean more stability for modern day Thailand, which has had three prime ministers in as many years and a 20-year cycle of military coups, violent street protests and paralyzing political instability.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Because of the paralyzing fear caused by their operation, small businesses whose customer bases and workforces include immigrant community members temporarily closed due to the sharp drop in customers and fear that their businesses would be subject to CBP raids.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One Florida resident reportedly hired a local mover without bothering to determine if the company was licensed, only to run into a boatload of trouble.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
-
If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
He was initially charged in July 2025 and indicted by a grand jury on one count of malicious destruction of government property in August 2025.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The Michigan State Police says the suspect now faces 11 felony charges and eight misdemeanor charges that include check fraud and malicious destruction of property.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Still, critics say the controversy risks distracting from preparations for the Games and eroding public confidence in the organizing committee.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Picture frame backsplashes are outdated and visually distracting, tied to early 2000s.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to Bloomberg, analysts are already antsy about increasing prices scaring away customers, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
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Most of that money would go to compensate ranchers for cattle eaten by wolves and for guard dogs, scaring devices or other means to keep them away from livestock.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There's also some evidence that cost discipline is loosening a bit.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Air quality regulations and programs are loosening their restrictions.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undoing. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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