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
- underminer noun
Etymology
Origin of undermine
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English underminen; under-, mine 2
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.
An earlier editorial, published a day after Beijing announced the probes, said their actions "seriously undermined and violated the system of responsibility of the CMC chairman", Xi.
From Barron's
Even if just a negotiating tactic, these threats destroy relationships and trust, isolate us, and undermine our competitiveness.
From Barron's
The dollar rallied, even though Warsh has been agitating for more rate cuts, which tend to undermine the dollar’s value.
From Los Angeles Times
The Founders worried that the U.S. could be undermined by a powerful standing army.
It could thus hit the eurozone economy at a time growth was starting to get back on track, potentially undermining efforts to close the gap with China and the United States.
From Barron's
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.
