undoing

noun

un·​do·​ing ˌən-ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce undoing (audio)
1
: an act of loosening : unfastening
2
: ruin
also : a cause of ruin
greed was to prove his undoing
3

Examples of undoing in a Sentence

My quick temper was my undoing. His quick temper helped lead to his undoing. The incident resulted in her undoing.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The shift figured heavily in the recent financial undoing of CityPlace I. UnitedHealthcare, the tower’s marquee tenant, drastically cut its 350,000 square foot lease — nearly a third of the entire building — to just a little over 35,000 square feet, according to sources familiar with the matter. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025 Avocados’ dependence upon megafaunal dispersion almost led to their undoing when all of these large mammals suddenly went extinct around 12,500 years ago due to human hunting, possibly also combined with environmental or climactic effects. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 His radicalization from the confines of his own bedroom is ultimately the family’s undoing: online, the rise of incel culture and misogyny have bred young men — and in this case, children — capable of committing horrendous acts of violence. Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025 Otherwise, this war may lead to the undoing of Lebanon and its increasingly rare, if flawed model of societal diversity—with even greater regional aftershocks. Maha Yahya, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for undoing

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of undoing was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undoing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

undoing

noun
un·​do·​ing ˌən-ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce undoing (audio)
1
: an act or instance of unfastening
2
a
: ruin entry 1 sense 1
parental neglect helped lead to their undoing
b
: a cause of ruin
my quick temper was my undoing
3

More from Merriam-Webster on undoing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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