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
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2
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of downfall
Syria Civil War While Assad's downfall marked perhaps the most significant turn in Syria's civil war that first erupted from clashes between government forces and an array of insurgents and jihadis in 2011, the rebel victory has brought with it new potential risks.
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Tom O'Connor, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
The Israeli government has reveled in the downfall of Assad, a staunch ally of Iran who allowed his country to be used as a resupply route for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
Not only did Lee participate in the USSR’s downfall.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 21 Dec. 2024
The pandemic and related delays on film releases, as well as shutdown of theaters were also listed as causes for Rectangle Productions’ downfall.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for downfall 
Tom O'Connor, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
The Israeli government has reveled in the downfall of Assad, a staunch ally of Iran who allowed his country to be used as a resupply route for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
Not only did Lee participate in the USSR’s downfall.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 21 Dec. 2024
The pandemic and related delays on film releases, as well as shutdown of theaters were also listed as causes for Rectangle Productions’ downfall.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
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The family of late British singer Danielle Moore, the vocalist for dance band Crazy P, has released a statement revealing her cause of death.Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2025
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Follow more of our reporting on City of Miami Crime Police swarm downtown Miami to investigate a death and injuries.Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Algorithms are used to predict patients' risk of death or deterioration, to suggest diagnoses or triage patients, to record and summarize visits to save doctors work, and to approve insurance claims.Darius Tahir | KFF Health News, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
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The measures, which include banning the maintenance of the aircraft and the supply of new planes, are likely to continue the deterioration of Russia's aviation industry.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Unfortunately, the 400-year-old oak met its demise when a wind storm tore through town in 1942.Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2025
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Assad's demise is a victory for humanity, even if the immediate aftermath is fraught with challenges that could lead to a worsening situation.Paul du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Downtown Los Angeles hasn’t recorded over a tenth of an inch of rain since May 5.Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
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On March 26, 2023, after months of heavy rain, a landslide swept away their home, destroying all their possessions and killing Manuela’s grandparents.Jordan Salama, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Teddy and Andy Leonard, owners of the Reel Inn, confirmed the destruction of their restaurant on Instagram, and stated that all of their restaurant staff were safe.Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
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People couldn't believe the destruction that happened in a manner of minutes.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Refrigeration can slow down the degradation of certain products, keeping them good-to-use just a little bit longer.Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
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Despite the degradation caused by the passage of time and human activity, investigations enabled the identification of the ship's type, dimensions, construction method, the most likely construction date and remnants of its cargo.Newsweek, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Even with this year’s ups and downs, many scouts are higher on Ewers than some might think, and that’s because his arm talent has always been terrific.Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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The four-week average of claims, which evens out the week-to-week ups and downs, fell by 10,250 to 213,000.Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Millions of people in large parts of the country are currently facing winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).Aila Slisco, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
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The airport has stayed open and operational during the storm, according to CLT.Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near downfall
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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