1
as in death
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life
an insatiable love of money would be their downfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demise
a loss of status
an ill-advised speech that proved to be the cause of the candidate's downfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
we ducked under an overhang to shelter ourselves from the sudden downfall
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 downfall
The steep drop in the housing market and the resulting downfall of the mortgage industry led to a credit crisis that brought the economy into a recession.
—
Barbara Hagenbaugh,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Alongside the police raids, the downfall of these tycoons put pressure on scam companies, which have relocated from Cambodia in recent months, researchers and former scam workers said.
—
Shibani Mahtani,
NPR,
21 June 2026
And Hinch was jeered again after Jones struck out, bookending the booing and showing Tigers fans are perturbed over the team’s downfall.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2026
The second episode… [is about] the fall of the group, precipitating [John Pearson’s] leaving, the downfall.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Barbara Hagenbaugh,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Alongside the police raids, the downfall of these tycoons put pressure on scam companies, which have relocated from Cambodia in recent months, researchers and former scam workers said.
—
Shibani Mahtani,
NPR,
21 June 2026
And Hinch was jeered again after Jones struck out, bookending the booing and showing Tigers fans are perturbed over the team’s downfall.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2026
The second episode… [is about] the fall of the group, precipitating [John Pearson’s] leaving, the downfall.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
-
Benning's cause of death was a fatal combination of a large amount of cocaine dissolved in alcohol, medical examiners testified during Taylor's trial.
-
According to a Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner death investigation report obtained by USA TODAY on July 1, Ransone's brother told an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department that the actor had a history of suicidal ideation.
Noun
-
The National Institute of Standards and Technology said long-term corrosion and the failure of multiple slab-to-column connections likely contributed to a progressive collapse after weeks of structural deterioration.
-
Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
Noun
-
Windows Central, however, notes that the demise of the Surface Go is not related to the RAM crunch.
-
But the spirit in which the challenge was launched was admirable and rooted in the fierce competitiveness that both made the SWC fun and perpetuated its demise.
Noun
-
When the rain cleared, a rainbow arched above the New York skyline.
-
Five to 10 inches of rain are possible from Sunday morning through Wednesday afternoon.
Noun
-
Rodríguez said authorities have recorded 862 aftershocks since the main quakes and confirmed that 189 buildings collapsed completely nationwide, the vast majority in La Guaira, the coastal state that suffered the worst destruction.
-
Our previous card featured the fiery destruction of the Missouri Pacific depot in 1909.
Noun
-
What bothers me is the foot-dragging, the spinning in circles, the slow degradation of these characters into annoying stereotypes.
-
Over time, this can increase electrical resistance, generate excess heat, and accelerate battery degradation.
Noun
-
Through years of navigating the ups and downs of podcasting, Mercury Podcast Founder and CEO Liam Heffernan noticed a striking gap in the industry.
-
At that point, college programs weren’t lining up to recruit a 187-pound pass rusher who hadn’t played a down of high school football.
Noun
-
Eagle avoided the brunt of the storm as the crew navigated toward open ocean.
-
Local Idaho agencies have spent days addressing storm damage caused by a low-pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska that brought winds over 50 mph, lightning, hail and more than an inch of rain to some areas.
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
