unmaking 1 of 2

noun

as in removal

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

unmaking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of unmake
as in deposing
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne) a movie studio chief who likes to boast that he can unmake any star in Hollywood if he wishes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unmaking
Noun
The film doesn’t entirely shy away from Presley’s unmaking. — Kim Willis, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026 The unmaking of the West has not been Trump’s doing alone. — Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
An ellipsis making and unmaking itself. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026 By the time Ben is unmaking the bed, lying in it, and cussing João out, the fight is bad. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unmaking
  1. removal
  2. deposing
  3. overthrow
  4. sacking
  5. impeachment
  6. toppling
  7. expulsion
  8. dismissal
Noun
  • Geragos' motion comes days after another one of the men named in the civil suit filed a request in Albany State Supreme Court seeking James's removal, also citing alleged bias.
    — James Cirrone , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The pull strap seen above that light eases removal of the top panel.
    — Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of removal
Verb
  • Successfully deposing the Mad King, The Rebellion leads to the downfall of House Targaryen.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 July 2026
  • Hamad himself seized control after deposing his father, Sheikh Khalifa, in a bloodless palace coup in 1995.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of deposing
Noun
  • The tapes were hidden for decades after the 1996 overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a leader of the African liberation movement.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Taiwan’s National Day is held on the anniversary ‌of a 1911 uprising that led to ​the overthrow of China’s last imperial dynasty and the establishment of ‌the Republic of China.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of overthrow
Verb
  • The Miami pass rush had been building toward a breakout game and finally got it against Minnesota, sacking quarterback Kyler Murray four times and hitting him on several other occasions.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Dolphins got constant pressure on the former first overall pick, sacking him four times.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of sacking
Noun
  • Ken Paxton’s first affair was at the center of his 2023 impeachment trial, which resulted in an acquittal.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Philippine Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, approved the move.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of impeachment
Verb
  • For the Houthis, success on the battlefield doesn’t require toppling Saudi Arabia; disrupting the Saudi economy and sowing fear within its society may be enough to give the Houthis leverage in any possible negotiations to end the fighting.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But further strengthening is unlikely due to a roadblock of storm-toppling wind shear set up just off the northern coast.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of toppling
Noun
  • The cases are then reviewed by a panel of faculty and staff, which can impose punishments ranging from verbal warnings to suspension or expulsion.
    — Casey Tolan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In theory, the criminal proceeding could lead to prison time and the Title IX case to expulsion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of expulsion
Noun
  • His lawyers, making the motion for dismissal, argued that Kuznietsov was still an active duty soldier and as such was obligated by Ukrainian law not to speak for reasons of secrecy linked to national security.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Even if Chili’s dismissal is unrelated, an ex-employee is a good place to start.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismissal

Browse Nearby Words

unmakes
unmaking
unmalicious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unmaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unmaking. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bon vivant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All