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 Tammy Faye stuck by Bakker, often with tears running down her mascara, even as many saw his downfall as a fitting symbol of the greed and hypocrisy of the 1980s. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 Famously — or, more infamously in the wake of the company’s downfall — Holmes built Theranos on the false promise that hundreds of medical tests could be run from a single drop of blood. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for downfall

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall

Noun

The Kern County Coroner’s office will determine his cause of death, Hardy said.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Following her death, Trail dismembered Loofe’s body to avoid getting caught.

— Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of death

Noun

One factor that could also affect air travel is the demise of Spirit Airlines, which went out of business in early May.

— Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
An ancient family The mass extinction that caused the dinosaurs’ demise may have created an environment for the king-size fungus to evolve and thrive, according to the study.

— Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of demise

Noun

Monday is expected to stay dry, with temperatures around 78 degrees, before a cold front brings the area’s next chance of rain, 20% to 40%, Monday night, the weather service said.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory Thursday as rain and king tides are forecast to soak South Florida.

— Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of rain

Noun

About 90% of the city was flooded following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, according to the White House.

— Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
The suspect, 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano of Stafford, Virginia, has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage, and felony injury to a monument, court records show.

— Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of destruction

Noun

The degradation is shameful, and shamefully compelling to read about.

— James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
The work also revises some degradation mechanisms described in earlier scientific literature, which the researchers said had relied largely on assumptions rather than experimental evidence.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of degradation

Noun

The Boise State defense also produced a turnover-on-downs in the final minutes, batting away several shots at the end zone to hold the Cougars to 10 points.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
On top of that, BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave the Knights a fresh set of downs and moved them up to the BYU 28-yard line.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of down

Noun

After the initial blast, which spews out gamma rays, a storm of radiation pours into the surrounding galaxy, creating a ferocious afterglow that burns in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
After this week’s storm, temperatures are expected to climb back into the upper 70s and low 80s through the weekend.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of downfall

noun

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