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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of undoing
Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
This final betrayal will be his undoing, as the enraged creature, doomed to live without connection, care, or love, finally snaps and destroys everything Victor holds dear.
—Thomas Page McBee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Pride blinds them to reality until nemesis arrives, undoing both their achievements and their legacies.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Noun
Failing to make the postseason or struggling with him on the roster in back-to-back seasons could be Mendoza's undoing.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
This final betrayal will be his undoing, as the enraged creature, doomed to live without connection, care, or love, finally snaps and destroys everything Victor holds dear.
—Thomas Page McBee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
The real challenge for this whiskey will be undoing the long-standing poor reputation that other 80-proof products have created over the years.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Pride blinds them to reality until nemesis arrives, undoing both their achievements and their legacies.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undoing
Noun
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Thompson; Hoss adds a blaze-of-glory brio to Eileen’s downfall; Thompson; a visual palette that prizes both old-school glamour and pomo maximalism; and Thompson.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
29 Oct. 2025
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At the same time, Congress didn’t establish any federal standard for sports betting—an omission that would later contribute to PASPA’s downfall.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Discipline without optimism is paralyzing.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Shortly after Henry’s death, Augusta suffered two paralyzing strokes, intensifying her and Ed’s isolated, co-dependent relationship before her death in 1945.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Perhaps, curled inside the turbulent virginal atmosphere, Helm dreams of being a storm, has a prophetic vision of destruction, feels a natural calling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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What divides him from Burton is that Hopkins, by a miracle, summoned the clarity to renounce his own destruction.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kids will love sending this Dilophosaurus sauntering across the floor, frightening everything and everyone in his path.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
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Instances of swatting have been plaguing the nation for years, with fake shooting threats frightening the public and forcing schools, hospitals, grocery stores, office buildings, and airports into temporary lockdowns.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Karbler notes that Bigelow resisted that depiction for fear of distracting from the emotional moment.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
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Surprisingly, the injury helped him in this regard by distracting him from overanalyzing his game.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Like, scaring kids is important.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Houseplant began in Canada in 2019, but after some US states began loosening cannabis restrictions, the duo expanded the company stateside.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
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That remark cuts against one market narrative that loosening financial conditions might be fueling an asset bubble in tech.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undoing. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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