Undoing

/ʌnˈduːɪŋ/

Meaning & Definition

noun
the act of reversing or canceling something; a process by which something is undone or made ineffective.
His constant procrastination was his undoing in the end.
a frail or weak point; a flaw that leads to failure.
Her kindness, while admirable, proved to be her undoing in the competitive corporate world.
the state of being undone; collapse or ruin.
The scandal was the undoing of his once-promising political career.

Etymology

From the verb 'undo', combined with the suffix '-ing'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

the undoing of
the cause of someone's failure or downfall
undoing one's mistakes
reversing errors or correcting faults
the undoing of a plan
the failure or collapse of a plan

Related Words

undo
to reverse an action or make something invalid.
do
to perform an action or task.
overturn
to reverse a decision or result.

Slang Meanings

to mess up something badly
He really did a number on that project; it's his undoing.
to bring about someone's failure
Her gossiping was her undoing in the office.