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
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Recent Examples of downfall
The downfall of the most powerful managing partner at one of the world’s most powerful law firms isn’t really a story about Jeffrey Epstein.
—
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026
For some in the administration, the downfall of Cuba’s communist regime would be like a 5-year-old waking up to a mountain of presents on Christmas morning.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
This is going to make Lucy’s imminent downfall so much worse, though.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
For Proust—who may have met Wilde and even been the subject of the older man’s amorous attention (though accounts of their meeting or meetings could be apocryphal)—his downfall showed that life featured far keener sorrows than those encountered in books.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026
For some in the administration, the downfall of Cuba’s communist regime would be like a 5-year-old waking up to a mountain of presents on Christmas morning.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
This is going to make Lucy’s imminent downfall so much worse, though.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
For Proust—who may have met Wilde and even been the subject of the older man’s amorous attention (though accounts of their meeting or meetings could be apocryphal)—his downfall showed that life featured far keener sorrows than those encountered in books.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
-
Through Van Der Beek’s wistful performance, viewers were given a window through which to grapple with betrayal, death, heartbreak and a litany of bad decisions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Little has been released about the shooting from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, which did not publicly acknowledge the killing for more than 12 hours after Anthony Anderson’s death.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The report identifies three massive, offsetting policy developments as the primary drivers of this fiscal deterioration.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The complaint includes several photographs of deterioration and hazards.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
McDonald died of a heart attack in 2017, with the city’s medical examiner ruling his death a homicide, stating his demise was caused by complications from the 1986 shooting.—
Barry Williams,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In a league where everyone is constantly predicting the demise of the running back position, Walker is proof that the old ways still work.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Light Layers The fickle nature of spring means that a beautiful sunny day can turn cold, windy, and spitting with rain at the drop of a hat.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
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The primary bedroom features a walk-in closet and a marble bath with a dual vanity, an oversized shower with a rain head, and a freestanding soaking tub.—
Saleema Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Starring Elordi and Barry Keoghan, Fennell’s dark comedy about class resentment and covetous destruction was sold on the promise of erotic excess.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Though once vital to the economy of the American territory, Puerto Rico’s sugar plantations evolved to represent the destruction and exploitation of colonialism that continues to impact the region today—a detail not lost on those cast as grass.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But Puerto Rico’s rapid growth has also raised concerns about sustainability, environmental degradation and cultural erosion.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Water-soluble chlorophyll, which gives broccoli its signature color, is vulnerable to degradation during prolonged cooking or boiling.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But an investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization commissioned by the United Nations concluded the shoot-down happened over international waters.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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There will also be cover-ups, beach button downs, beach shorts and midi dresses.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But in recent years, the once-sleepy Australian lookout has found itself at the center of a global social media storm.—
Trista Kurniawan,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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With these statistical corrections, researchers can more accurately predict how energy behaves in chaotic environments, such as during the formation of severe storms.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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