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

The rise of this offshore world also led directly to the undoing of all the efforts to hold oligarchs and their wealth to account. — Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026

Ultimately, the provisions meant to lock taxpayers in could be the wealth tax’s undoing. — Jared Walczak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026

Verb

The appellate panel voiced serious doubts about undoing the consent decree at oral arguments in June. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

That jar of retinol on your nightstand only works if the rest of your evening habits are not undoing it. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026