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
Alice Kaplan, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
But Stanton’s superiority also became her undoing.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Within 24 hours of being sworn in at the White House surrounded by family on Wednesday, Mullin had rolled up his sleeves and begun undoing the unprecedented regulations that Noem and her cohort, Corey Lewandowski, had imposed across the department.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Noun
But his conclusion that the Nazis were no different from anyone else proves to be his undoing.
—Alice Kaplan, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
But Stanton’s superiority also became her undoing.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
But undoing all the price gains since late February hinges on getting oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz again, a key waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil usually transits.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Within 24 hours of being sworn in at the White House surrounded by family on Wednesday, Mullin had rolled up his sleeves and begun undoing the unprecedented regulations that Noem and her cohort, Corey Lewandowski, had imposed across the department.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undoing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undoing
Noun
-
Now, 34 years later and a registered nurse, the downfall of the hospital is heartbreaking for her.—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The manic, madcap, chaotic and silly stunt show was heavy on exposition to the delight of the fans who cheered the entrance of every One Piece character and laughed at the downfall of paper-thin goon.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dawood said she's gone through paralyzing panic attacks and intense therapy.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to some experts, this paralyzing fear and desperation are factors that scammers exploit to put their criminal schemes into action.—
Albinson Linares,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sit there like nothing is bothering you.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One chapter closes, another opens The destruction of several Russian Kamov Ka-52s using drones doesn’t signal the end of the attack helicopter by any means.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The pace of destruction was terrifying.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 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 curators supply a historical backdrop, therefore, but discreetly, and without distracting us from Wright’s poetic originality.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Living Room also extends outdoors to the rooftop Terrazzo Bar with views that are almost too distracting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Plus, nobody will careen past you at 110 mph, scaring you spitless.—
Allen Best,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This isn’t a film about trauma, or smuggled-in social issues, or anything at all, really, besides the honest workaday business of scaring the bejesus out of its audience, rinsing, and repeating with extra vigor.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Erdoğan centralized power around himself but also pushed for loosening the country’s borders and extending Turkey’s influence into the region—into Syria, Iraq, Libya, Azerbaijan, and beyond—as a crucial part of Turkey’s new mission and ideology.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Many Republicans oppose loosening marijuana restrictions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undoing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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