Definition of undermine - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
authoritymake authority less secure indirectly
- The rumors undermine his leadership.
2.
erosionerode the base or foundation
- The river undermines the cliff over time.
3.
diggingdig underneath for destructive purposes
- The miners undermine the old castle.
Expressions with undermine
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weaken someone's power or control
His constant criticism undermined her authority at work.
weaken the body's ability to function
Poor diet and lack of exercise can undermine health.
erode trust and stability in a relationship
Gossiping can quickly undermine a relationship by spreading false information.
weaken the trust others have in someone
The scandal will undermine the politician's credibility.
weaken or sabotage attempts to achieve something
His comments were meant to undermine efforts to improve the team's morale.
weaken the confidence or spirit of a group
Negative comments can undermine morale in the workplace.
gradually reduce the strength or effectiveness of support
Negative media coverage may undermine support for the new policy.
Origin of undermine
Middle English, undermyne (to weaken) + Old English, myne (mine)
Terms with undermine included in their meaning
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reputation effect
tending to discredit or undermine
politics
undermine a system or structure
undermining authority
intended to undermine or overthrow authority
system underminer
one who engages in activities to undermine systems
figurative
undermine or destroy plans or efforts
strategy
undermine someone's position or confidence
criticism
undermine or discredit something
corrupt
undermine moral principles or integrity
politics
undermine the power or authority of an established system or institution
strategy
weaken or undermine someone's efforts
undermining
undermine someone's position or plans unexpectedly
diplomacy
undermine a country's international standing
conflict
destroy or undermine members of one's own group
figurative
undermine someone's efforts or position
excavation
hollow out or undermine
culture
undermine cultural values or beliefs
psychology
undermine someone's confidence or spirit
undermine
completely negate someone's argument or position
political interference
undermine a government through subversion or terrorism
personal actions
undermine one's own success or well-being
undermining
in a way that seeks to undermine authority
Examples of undermine in a sentence
His actions could undermine the entire project. Waves undermine the coastal rocks gradually. The sea undermines the base of the lighthouse. They planned to undermine the enemy's fortifications. The engineers were hired to undermine the old bridge for safety reasons.
View all translations of undermine
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:saper, ...
- German:untergraben, aushöhlen, ...
- Italian:minare, erodere, ...
- Spanish:socavar, erosionar, ...
- Portuguese:minar, desgastar, ...
- Chinese:削弱, 侵蚀, ...
- Japanese:弱体化させる, 侵食する, ...
- Arabic:قَوَّضَ, نَحَت, ...
- Hebrew:לְעַרְעֵר, לִשְׁחוֹק, ...
- Russian:подрывать, размывать, ...
- Ukrainian:підривати, підмивати, ...
- Hindi:कमज़ोर करना, नींव काटना, ...
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