The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word UNDOING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
U
N
D
O
I
N
G
More clues leading to the result UNDOING
- Downfall caused by murder in a French gîte, primarily
- Admitting murder, gun used in downfall
- Ruin party held in college garden, turning up discontented
- Out of work, subjected to the anguish of ruin
- Returning antelope occupied by kill gets coup de grace
- Opening cause of downfall
- Cancelling defeat
- Reversing the effects of downfall
- UNDOING
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Opening/cause of downfall" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case opening/cause of downfall = undoing.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does UNDOING mean?
UNDOING noun- The act of loosening or unfastening
- Ruin; defeat, that which causes defeat or ruin.
- Annulment; reversal
- To reverse the effects of an action.
- To unfasten.
- To impoverish or ruin, as in reputation; to cause the downfall of.