Need another word for Downfall? Use these synonyms of Downfall from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
collapse
downfall
failure
defeat
ruin
destruction
demise
decay
deterioration
decline
slump
nose-dive
plummet
crash
fold
capitulation
surrender
loss
calamity
disaster
catastrophe
fiasco
debacle
mishap
misfortune
tragedy
adversity
hardship
misadventure
setback
reverse
check
blow
shock
upset
downfall
undoing
collapse
comedown
pratfall
flops
washout
bust
fizzle
disappointment
letdown
Meaning of Downfall
The word "downfall" refers to a sudden or dramatic failure or collapse, often resulting in a loss of power, status, or reputation.
Definitions
- The word "downfall" is defined by Oxford Languages as the act or fact of falling or coming down, or a person's or thing's loss of power, status, or reputation.
- * It can also refer to a cause of someone's or something's failure or defeat.
Etymology of Downfall
The word "downfall" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages, where "down" meant "away from a higher to a lower place" and "fall" meant "to come down".
Historically, the word "downfall" was used to describe a physical fall or a decline in fortune, and over time, its meaning expanded to include figurative uses, such as a decline in power or reputation.
Example Uses
- The company's downfall was caused by a combination of poor management and economic downturn.
- * The scandal led to the downfall of the politician, who was forced to resign from office.
- * The team's downfall in the championship game was a shock to their fans.
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
success
victory
triumph
achievement
accomplishment
win
gain
advance
progress
rise
ascent
improvement
enhancement
boom
prosperity
flourishing
thriving
blossoming
growth
expansion
development
upswing
upturn
comeback
recovery
resurgence
revival