undoing

American  

[uhn-doo-ing] / ʌnˈdu ɪŋ /

noun

1. the reversing of what has been done; annulling.

   Synonyms:

   negation, reversal

2. a bringing to destruction, ruin, or disaster.

3. a cause of destruction or ruin.

4. the act of unfastening or loosing.

5. Psychiatry. an unconscious defense mechanism through which an attempt is made to reverse a psychologically unacceptable act by doing its opposite, usually repetitiously, in order to relieve anxiety.

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undoing British  

/ ʌnˈduːɪŋ /

noun

1. ruin; downfall

2. the cause of downfall

   drink was his undoing

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Other Word Forms

• self-undoing adjective

Etymology

Origin of undoing

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; undo, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In September, the company said it would split in two, undoing the 2015 deal.

From The Wall Street Journal

That was both his making and undoing, Chow said: "Otherwise, there would have been no Apple Daily. Of course, he wouldn't have ended up like this either."

From BBC

Months of supporter frustration at league placing, a failed transfer window and a botched attempt at Champions League progression will take some undoing.

From BBC

The secretary this week stands to oversee the undoing of a vaccine norm that Cassidy has credited with preventing around 20,000 hepatitis B infections every year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Energy aside, fixing affordability requires undoing decades of policies that make it difficult for businesses to operate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• downfall
• miscalculation