undermine
verb
transitive verb
Example Sentences
Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 People who condemn the police, including its black and brown officers, as agents of a racist system undermine the nation. WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Hunger and poor nutrition can significantly undermine learning. Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 Daring to risk that movement, and undermine the on-court product, for a slightly bigger piece of the, pie could be risky, and would unquestionably send a poor message to the millions of fans who are tuning in worldwide. Morten Jensen, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 Delaying a national climate emergency declaration even this long, however, may undermine the core argument that a crisis is at hand. Will Weissert, ajc, 13 Aug. 2022 Provisions favoring fossil fuels could undermine climate goals. Benjy Sarlin, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2022 The visit could also undermine the Biden administration’s strategy of building economic and diplomatic ties in Asia to counter Beijing. New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 An emergency move to keep gas cheap, that is, could easily undermine one to save the planet. Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 21 July 2022 See More Word History
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Kids Definition
undermine
verb
undermine
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- weaken
- erode
- impair
- damage
- compromise
- deteriorate
- destroy
- injure
- cripple
- hurt
- harm
- vitiate
- spoil
- mar
- disfigure
- enfeeble
- enervate
- shatter
- deface
- flaw
- tarnish
- bloody
- ruin
- scour
- blemish
- wash out
- break
- blight
- dent
- crab
- endamage
- botch
- dint
- devastate
- demolish
- cross (up)
- decimate
- disable
- ding
- maim
- wreck
- wear (away)
- annihilate
- torture
- lacerate
- queer
- mutilate
- wound
- mangle
- wipe out
- torment
- crush
- hamstring
- pulverize
- waste
- total
- smash
- clobber
- raze
- lame
- bang up
- tear down
- bash
- desolate
- gum (up)
- scourge
- batter
- dash
- do in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- help
- rehabilitate
- rectify
- improve
- heal
- remedy
- cure
- enhance
- revise
- better
- enrich
- perfect
- ameliorate
- refine
- edit
- remodel
- reconstruct
- rebuild
- repair
- fix
- renovate
- patch
- revamp
- mend
- meliorate
- recondition
- doctor
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of undermine are cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.
The meanings of cripple and undermine largely overlap; however, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.
While the synonyms debilitate and undermine are close in meaning, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.
The words disable and undermine can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.
Although the words enfeeble and undermine have much in common, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.
The words weaken and undermine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.