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 But Gaston and others blame the downfall of Red Lobster on events that date much further back. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 Rogers’ indiscretion was later exploited by online blackmail scammers, ultimately leading to his downfall. — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been approved to move to a halfway house next year, ABC News reported, years after her stunning downfall that culminated in a conviction for defrauding investors while running her failed blood testing startup. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026 Failing to recognize that flaw has been the downfall of emperors and autocrats. — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for downfall

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall

Noun

The death of actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte was met with a wave of grief from his Breaking Bad co-stars, who shared memories of Mitte following the tragedy.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
Pavlovsky worked alongside Karl Lagerfeld until his death in 2019; Virginie Viard from 2019 to 2024, and Matthieu Blazy since April 2025.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of death

Noun

Unlike Netflix, Disney is wrestling with the ongoing deterioration of linear TV.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
That creates a different situation when a condition begins with something a resident or guest did rather than deterioration of the building or a maintenance issue.

— Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of deterioration

Noun

Above all, the election could herald the political demise of Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving PM, who has led the nation for all but 18 months since 2009.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026
Columnist Bill Plaschke wrote how a team with seemingly every advantage fell short, beat writer Maddie Lee documented what led to the demise, while columnist Bill Shaikin provided updates to several questions on the team’s future.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of demise

Noun

However, following his arrest, the owner, Mohammad Khan, blamed this week's rains for weakening one of the roofs, according to police, who said the investigation was still underway.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
However, following his arrest, the owner blamed this week’s rains for weakening one of the roofs, according to police, who said the investigation was still underway.

— Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of rain

Noun

The end of saving money and raising middle-class wages justifies the means, namely, the destruction of immigrant families.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
The destruction releases vast stores of carbon, adding to climate change that is already contributing to drought and forest fires across the tropics.

— Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of destruction

Noun

Since optical switches aren’t subject to the same amount of degradation as traditional mechanical switches, the representative argued, users won’t need to swap them over time.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
There are also practical questions around battery degradation, consumer compensation, privacy, and who gets to control an asset in someone’s home.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of degradation

Noun

That came in the fourth quarter, requiring Manning to throw a Hail Mary-adjacent 62-yard fourth-down heave to keep the drive alive.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
After Bachmeier’s go-ahead TD pass to Walker Lyons, CJ Carr completed several clutch throws to drive the Irish (6-1) into Cougars territory, including a fourth-down pass to Micah Gilbert that put Notre Dame at the BYU 9 with four seconds left.

— John Coon, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of down

Noun

Simon has weakened to a Category 2 storm, its eye remaining just offshore as its most powerful winds and rain slammed communities between the Sierra Madre and the ocean and were forecast to persist off the coast of Puerto Vallarta.

— JAIMIE DING, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Typically, when embroiled in these sorts of escalating back-and-forths, Larry’s go-to move was the quit-and-storm-off.

— Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of downfall

noun

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