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.
Canada’s continual penalties late in crucial games was its undoing. Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025 Should the new hijab bill be implemented, the Islamic Republic might face a repeat of the uprising that nearly brought about its undoing. Kay Armin Serjoie, TIME, 16 Dec. 2024 Henry Hobson Richardson: Drawings from the Collection of Houghton Library, Harvard University by Jay Wickersham, Chris Milford, and Hope Mayo For Shakespeare’s characters the possibility of a second chance could be their undoing or their salvation. The New York Review of Books, 29 Nov. 2024 Its undoing is now a dreary conclusion to an investigation that had once been viewed as a sea change in Latin America, promising to root out systemic corruption that had rotted the underpinnings of governments. Jack Nicas, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near undoing

Cite this Entry

“Undoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undoing. Accessed 7 Feb. 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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