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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
the gradual downfall of the Roman Empire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downfall
Hitting theaters on March 21, De Niro puts his acting chops to the ultimate test, taking on both roles of Vito and Frank in this epic tale that documents the downfall of the American Mafia.
—
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
This toxic combination of hubris and adept manipulation led to the downfall of Theranos and highlights the destructive power of a Dark Empath.
—Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Remember when Russia was that pesky geopolitical force who’s own constant secrecy and subterfuge brought about the downfall of its imperial ambitions?
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 2025
While the nation has faced hardships, every downfall presents an opportunity for renewal.
—Jonel Juste, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
This toxic combination of hubris and adept manipulation led to the downfall of Theranos and highlights the destructive power of a Dark Empath.
—Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Remember when Russia was that pesky geopolitical force who’s own constant secrecy and subterfuge brought about the downfall of its imperial ambitions?
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 2025
While the nation has faced hardships, every downfall presents an opportunity for renewal.
—Jonel Juste, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downfall
Noun
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Edna Buchanan is the Pulitzer prize-winning crime reporter who covered more than 5,000 violent deaths during her 18-year career at the Miami Herald.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2025
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The strong winds Monday are indirectly related to the severe weather that struck the Midwest and South over the weekend, causing many deaths.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Kahle, who early on recognized the ephemeral nature of the web, said the rapid deterioration of the living web is a serious threat to historical preservation.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
23 Mar. 2025
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Of course, however, a severe deterioration in the U.S. economy would have global repercussions.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The duo were intrigued by a movie that could tell not only the Cain and Abel story of two childhood pals turned lethal adversaries, but also the demise of the Mafia's national stranglehold, which began with Costello's famous testimony before a congressional hearing in 1951.—
Marco della Cava,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
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And coming shortly after Brexit, Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, DFID’s demise further called into question Britain’s commitment to global cooperation.—
Sarah Stroup,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, which studies and tests ways to make homes more resilient, has recommended construction standards based on its research, both for high wind and heavy rains, as well as wildfires.—
Ron Lieber,
New York Times,
19 Mar. 2025
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When a local festival is happening or when rain is in the forecast, their AI systems could adjust staffing and stock levels.—
Claire Vanessa Lim,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The war at its height displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population and has caused vast destruction across the territory.—
Ibrahim Hazboun,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
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Given Björk’s ongoing activism through song, the film will also curate a postapocalyptic utopia, void of environmental destruction.—
Kalia Richardson,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Overly broad agent objectives introduce performance degradation, making debugging and optimization significantly more challenging.—
Rick Kelly,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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Where everything seems more and more about degradation.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article After a week of the ups and downs of Chicago weather, more snow was a possibility over the weekend, National Weather Service officials said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
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The first episode also highlights the ups and downs of racing.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Then, with a storm system working its way south along the Central Coast region, there is a chance Los Angeles could see light rain between March 30 and April 2.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
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Russian River Valley Pinot Noir took the world by storm with its irresistible lushness and decadently rich flavors.—
Cathrine Todd,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downfall. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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