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

In Tabor’s telling, Field comes off as a figure of Shakespearean tragedy, someone whose strengths would paradoxically become his undoing. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026

Ironically, the runaway success of this year’s World Cup may prove to be Lalas’ undoing. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 June 2026

Verb

Disability organisations including The Arc and the Council for Exceptional Children have warned the change risks shifting special education from an education framework to a medical one, undoing decades of progress toward integration in schools. — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Sitting on the Same Edge Every Day Rotating your mattress regularly aims to prevent uneven wear—but your morning routine might be undoing that effort. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026