DOWNFALL Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

downfall

noun

ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl

Definition of downfall

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

as in deterioration

a change to a lower state or level the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Taverner takes advantage of the situation and uses the eventual leak to bring about Tearney’s downfall. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 His lack of participation in tournaments following the event may have been his downfall in his attempt to make the playoffs. — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 For one, the Tea Party folks weren't trying to bring about the downfall of Western civilization and the United States of America. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 Wrestling with his role in Dez’s downfall does a number on our hero, the ramifications of which are felt throughout Season 2. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downfall

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall

Noun

Styles’ tribute to Parton is one of the innumerable remembrances across the globe following her death after a brief battle with cancer at 80.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
The story follows Ana, a young Black French woman who, following the death of her grandmother, travels to her matriarch’s birth city of Belo Horizonte.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of death

Noun

The City is aware of deterioration to the pavers surrounding the memorial related to the seawall conditions in this section of the Riverwalk.

— Bri Buckley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
The deterioration in DeepMind’s talent flows coincided with the lab tightening its publication rules, Hurd said, something that Zeki researchers say may have weakened one of the lab’s most important draws for research-minded staff.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of deterioration

Noun

The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.

— Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
The Syrian civil war that began during that period eventually saw the demise of the Assad regime – Hafez’s son Bashar had continued his father’s hard-line legacy after coming to power in 2000.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of demise

Noun

Incoming low pressure from the west pushes away heat and allows better moisture to enter the state, raising rain chances as soon as Friday evening and increasing through the weekend.

— Tevian Whitehurst, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Extreme precipitation is increasingly falling on mountains as rain not snow, increasing the risks of landslides and soil erosion.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rain

Noun

The deadly wall of water that descended from the mountains on the border between Nepal and Tibet caused destruction at least 62 miles downriver from the border in Nepal, an ABC News analysis of verified video and satellite images shows.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Trump has also promoted the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities and navy, and the reduction in missile and drone capabilities, as measures of success.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of destruction

Noun

Now cancer-free, Manilow has faced ups and downs in his recovery process but plans to return to Orlando for one last farewell concert in early 2027.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
If they’re handled frequently, give them a quick wipe-down weekly or as needed, especially during cold and flu season or after messy meals.

— Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of down

Noun

An inquest opened Wednesday into the sudden death earlier this month of Jason Arday, a Cambridge University professor who faced a storm of plagiarism accusations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Two small cedar trees were found snapped at the trunk, and that’s the extent of the storm damage, investigators said in a preliminary report.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of storm

Browse Nearby Words

downers

downfall

downfalls

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Style

“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of downfall

noun

Example Sentences

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