undermine
Americanverb (used with object)
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to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect.
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to attack by indirect, secret, or underhand means; attempt to subvert by stealth.
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to make an excavation under; dig or tunnel beneath, as a military stronghold.
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to weaken or cause to collapse by removing underlying support, as by digging away or eroding the foundation.
verb
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(of the sea, wind, etc) to wear away the bottom or base of (land, cliffs, etc)
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to weaken gradually or insidiously
their insults undermined her confidence
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to tunnel or dig beneath
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of undermine
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English underminen; see under-, mine 2
Explanation
To undermine literally means to dig a hole underneath something, making it likely to collapse. But we more often use the word to describe sabotage or the act of weakening someone else's efforts. Originally spelled with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘i’, undermine has Germanic roots and means "to weaken, hinder, or impair." Accidentally undermine the foundation of a house by digging a tunnel to China beneath it and you might be forgiven. Undermine your teacher’s authority by speaking out of turn and throwing spitballs and odds are you’ll get in trouble.
Vocabulary lists containing undermine
The Crucible
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
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Grade 9, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The attorneys’ goal: Undermine Depp’s libel suit against Heard.
From Seattle Times • May 22, 2022
She was recently named one of “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” for 2018 by Women’s eNews and is the author of five books, including The Big Letdown—How Medicine, Big Business and Feminism Undermine Breastfeeding.
From Slate • Apr. 9, 2018
Author appearance Best-selling author Stephen A. Tillett signs copies of “Stop Falling for the Okeydoke: How the Lie of ‘Race’ Continues to Undermine Our Country” at the church he attended while growing up.
From Washington Post • Jul. 11, 2017
Undermine either, and you sever the fuel line to the engine of economic growth.
From Scientific American • Nov. 12, 2015
Undermine and corrupt this and we all know that there is nothing to hope for.
From The Elements of General Method Based on the Principles of Herbart by McMurry, Charles Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
