DictionaryundoCausing ruin
verb

undo

To bring someone or something to ruin or failure.

His carelessness undoes years of careful work.

Etymology

Undo reverses what has been done. In the ruin sense, it figuratively dismantles the success, security, or standing someone had built.

More examples

  • One dishonest decision undid her career.
  • The team was undone by repeated defensive errors.
  • Their own ambition threatened to undo them.

Forms

undo · undoes · undid · undone · undoing

undoing noun — the cause of ruin or failure

Similar words

ruin
The direct general equivalent.
destroy
Often stronger or more complete.