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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of undoing
CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Shell’s fight with Cipriani, a notorious provocateur, may have been the proximate cause for his undoing.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
Kerry Sheridan, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Democrats’ narrower-than-expected but still-decisive win in Tuesday’s plebiscite undoing the commonwealth’s own truce may or may not be the end of it.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Noun
The repeal eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks and could unleash a broader undoing of climate regulations on stationary sources such as power plants and oil and gas facilities, experts say.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Shell’s fight with Cipriani, a notorious provocateur, may have been the proximate cause for his undoing.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Keeping mandates, but with a new exemption On the legislative front, there was little progress on undoing mandates during the regular winter session.
—Kerry Sheridan, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Democrats’ narrower-than-expected but still-decisive win in Tuesday’s plebiscite undoing the commonwealth’s own truce may or may not be the end of it.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undoing
Noun
-
But in this dark, increasingly sad final season, and in our dark, sad reality, sometimes actively delighting in an evil person’s downfall is the only way to go.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
-
Icons like the Amazon rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, and Victoria Falls tend to top the list, but sometimes a site’s notoriety can be its downfall, especially when high visitation leads to crowding and environmental degradation.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
To him, these alliances resemble the tiny Lilliputians trying to bind the giant Gulliver with paralyzing strings.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
11 May 2026
-
These figures can feel abstract, even paralyzing.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
4 May 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
-
Tell him that his approach to the trip is bothering you.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Try taking 10 to 15 minutes each day to write out what's bothering you.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
GameStop’s $65 billion, half-cash/half-stock bid would heavily dilute shareholders, add risky leverage, and require an unrealistically high valuation multiple, making value destruction more likely than creating an Amazon rival.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
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The letter warns that these dynamics are not only driving environmental destruction but also weakening Indigenous governance and territorial control.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 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
-
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
-
However, many within Starmer’s party say a leadership contest would be distracting for the party and disastrous for the country.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
-
Schapiro, a former university president, stepped down to avoid distracting from the ceremony.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undoing. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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