undoing
noun
un·do·ing ˌən-ˈdü-iŋ 
1
: an act of loosening : unfastening
2
: ruin
also : a cause of ruin
greed was to prove his undoing
3
: annulment, reversal
Synonyms
- death
- destruction
- downfall
- ruin
- ruination
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 This is easier said than done and will come with much practice and trauma undoing, but the 4c naturals are making their presence known and showing the duality that comes with tighter curls. 
Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 26 Aug. 2022 Just like Brainiac played a significant role in the undoing of Krypton, Apple has landed on metaphorical planets and simply taken over. Steve Tengler, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Mariano last week publicly floated the possibility of undoing, changing, or suspending the 1986 law. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 Other backs kept it up for a while, but their team’s overreliance on one guy was ultimately their undoing. Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 6 Aug. 2022 The book’s cocky bid for comprehensiveness proves to be its undoing. Zoë Heller, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Russia has also ramped up the use of artillery and drones, rather than launching the smaller incursions that proved its undoing on the outskirts of Kyiv, where its forces were bogged down for weeks and unable to penetrate the capital. Nabih Bulosstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2022 The Broncos have some talented pieces on offense, however, an inability to find a solution at quarterback has proved their undoing. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2022 The convenience of paper money proved its undoing, however. Edward Chancellor, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2021 See More
Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 26 Aug. 2022 Just like Brainiac played a significant role in the undoing of Krypton, Apple has landed on metaphorical planets and simply taken over. Steve Tengler, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Mariano last week publicly floated the possibility of undoing, changing, or suspending the 1986 law. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 Other backs kept it up for a while, but their team’s overreliance on one guy was ultimately their undoing. Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 6 Aug. 2022 The book’s cocky bid for comprehensiveness proves to be its undoing. Zoë Heller, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Russia has also ramped up the use of artillery and drones, rather than launching the smaller incursions that proved its undoing on the outskirts of Kyiv, where its forces were bogged down for weeks and unable to penetrate the capital. Nabih Bulosstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2022 The Broncos have some talented pieces on offense, however, an inability to find a solution at quarterback has proved their undoing. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2022 The convenience of paper money proved its undoing, however. Edward Chancellor, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
undoing
noun
un·do·ing ˌən-ˈdü-iŋ
: a cause of ruin or failure
My quick temper was my undoing.
undoing 1 of 2
noun
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life an intractable drug habit proved to be her sad undoing Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- downfall
- destruction
- ruination
- curse
- death
- ruin
- kiss of death
- bane
- torment
- tragic flaw
- Achilles' heel
undoing
2 of 2verb
1
as in paralyzing
to deprive of courage or confidence the sudden shriek undid the campers Synonyms & Similar Words
- paralyzing
- frightening
- scaring
- terrifying
- intimidating
- emasculating
- weakening
- unsettling
- demoralizing
- unmanning
- unnerving
- wasting
- debilitating
- enfeebling
- softening
- sapping
- neutering
- unstringing
- discouraging
- enervating
- unbalancing
- upsetting
- terrorizing
- disturbing
- tiring
- daunting
- unhinging
- maddening
- disheartening
- deranging
- dispiriting
- perturbing
- dismaying
- disquieting
- prostrating
- crazing
- fazing
- discomposing
- psyching (out)
- weirding out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthening
- fortifying
- nerving
- encouraging
- emboldening
- heartening
2
as in unfastening
to disengage the knotted parts of undo a tangled shoelace Synonyms & Similar Words
- unfastening
- unraveling
- untying
- loosening
- unbinding
- untieing
- unlashing
- unwinding
- unlacing
- disentangling
- raveling
- unbraiding
- untangling
- loosing
- unsnarling
- ravelling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tying
- binding
- fastening
- lashing
- winding
- knotting
- tieing
- braiding
- entangling
- interlacing
- snarling
- lacing
- tangling
- interweaving
3
as in bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the mere mention of the home invasion still had the power to undo her Synonyms & Similar Words
- bothering
- distracting
- alarming
- concerning
- disturbing
- worrying
- unsettling
- angering
- agitating
- unhinging
- upsetting
- derailing
- distressing
- plaguing
- haunting
- annoying
- irritating
- exercising
- perturbing
- embarrassing
- dismaying
- discomforting
- disquieting
- fussing
- confusing
- ailing
- distempering
- rattling
- aggravating
- exasperating
- discomposing
- discouraging
- nettling
- frazzling
- getting
- vexing
- irking
- alaruming
- chafing
- harassing
- bugging
- harrying
- hagriding
- galling
- fretting
- weirding out
- chivying
- riling
- confounding
- flurrying
- flustering
- mortifying
- disconcerting
- bedeviling
- demoralizing
- discountenancing
- chivvying
- pestering
- grating
- freaking (out)
- jarring
- peeving
- putting off
- piquing
- putting out
- discomfiting
- abashing
- daunting
- unnerving
- nonplussing
- shaking up
- dispiriting
- disheartening
- fazing
- nonplusing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- settling
- alleviating
- composing
- quieting
- soothing
- calming
- tranquilizing
- assuaging
- allaying
- tranquillizing
- placating
- appeasing
- propitiating
- mollifying
- conciliating
- pacifying