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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Toothaker's good fortune was part of Koo's undoing.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 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
But the same geological forces that formed the stacks may also be their undoing.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Toothaker's good fortune was part of Koo's undoing.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 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
-
The railroad arrives, opening the door to the banana company and accelerating the town's downfall, pushing the Buendía family closer to the curse that has haunted them for generations.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
After taking power in 1959, Fidel installed Raúl among the country’s top military brass, due to his successful leadership during the revolutionary activities that led to Batista’s downfall.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
20 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
-
Its offspring included Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx, who goes on to produce Ker (destruction), Thanatos (death), and Oizys (pain), among many others.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Comments under the brand's post showing a photo of the destruction show support for the cupcake bakery.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
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
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
-
None of the distracting political overcast stopped Hernandez from winning all three events the athlete competed in the first-round meet.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
In this case, Swift opted to let the strands of her bow hang well past her ponytail, giving the hair accessory a veil-like quality without distracting from the rest of her look.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undoing. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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