Synonyms of undoing

undoing 1 of 2

noun

ˌən-ˈdü-iŋ 

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

• downfall
• destruction
• ruination
• death
• curse
• kiss of death
• ruin
• bane
• torment
• tragic flaw
• Achilles' heel

undoing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of undo

1

as in paralyzing

to deprive of courage or confidence

the sudden shriek undid the campers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paralyzing
• frightening
• scaring
• terrifying
• intimidating
• emasculating
• demoralizing
• weakening
• unnerving
• wasting
• unsettling
• unmanning
• debilitating
• softening
• enfeebling
• sapping
• unstringing
• discouraging
• neutering
• enervating
• disturbing
• upsetting
• tiring
• terrorizing
• daunting
• unbalancing
• disheartening
• unhinging
• maddening
• deranging
• dispiriting
• perturbing
• dismaying
• disquieting
• psyching (out)
• prostrating
• crazing
• fazing
• discomposing
• weirding out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthening
• fortifying
• nerving
• encouraging
• emboldening
• heartening

2

as in unfastening

to disengage the knotted parts of

undo a tangled shoelace

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unfastening
• untying
• loosening
• unraveling
• unbinding
• unlashing
• unwinding
• unlacing
• disentangling
• raveling
• untangling
• unbraiding
• loosing
• unsnarling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tying
• binding
• fastening
• lashing
• winding
• knotting
• interlacing
• snarling
• lacing
• braiding
• entangling
• interweaving
• tangling

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

• bothering
• distracting
• worrying
• concerning
• disturbing
• alarming
• angering
• unsettling
• agitating
• upsetting
• distressing
• plaguing
• derailing
• haunting
• unhinging
• annoying
• exercising
• dismaying
• perturbing
• irritating
• ailing
• disquieting
• discomforting
• confusing
• fussing
• embarrassing
• rattling
• distempering
• aggravating
• discomposing
• freaking (out)
• bugging
• exasperating
• frazzling
• discouraging
• flurrying
• harassing
• nettling
• weirding out
• hagriding
• vexing
• chafing
• irking
• harrying
• fretting
• galling
• riling
• getting
• pestering
• chivying
• mortifying
• putting off
• bedeviling
• confounding
• grating
• disconcerting
• putting out
• flustering
• piquing
• jarring
• discountenancing
• demoralizing
• peeving
• discomfiting
• daunting
• shaking up
• unnerving
• abashing
• disheartening
• dispiriting
• nonplussing
• fazing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settling
• composing
• soothing
• quieting
• calming
• alleviating
• allaying
• tranquilizing
• appeasing
• placating
• assuaging
• pacifying
• conciliating
• propitiating
• mollifying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of undoing

Noun

Their win was a victory for method over the madness that always threatened to be Argentina’s undoing. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 2026

By hiding violence inside a gift, Nolan suggests that Odysseus and his men lay the groundwork for humanity’s undoing. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 19 July 2026

Verb

Trump reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah by about 90% each, undoing protections established by former presidents on public lands that are sacred among many Native Americans. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 14 July 2026

The injunction insisted that Nexstar and Tegna assets remain distinct, freezing and undoing efforts to combine the companies that had already begun. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 July 2026