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.
Based on real-life events, Barry Levinson's gangster drama casts De Niro as former best friends turned rivals Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, where a violent betrayal leads to an undoing of the New York underworld. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 June 2025 In the upcoming film, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 May 2025 The 17th hole proved to be Hatton’s undoing as the Englishman drove the ball into the rough on the downslope of a greenside bunker. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 15 June 2025 As with the first meeting, the third quarter proved to be the Sparks’ undoing. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025 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 22 Jul. 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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