undermined

[uhn-der-mahynd, uhn-der-mahynd]

adjective

1. attacked, weakened, or defeated by underhand or seemingly harmless actions or by imperceptible stages.

   Both the struggling students and the most gifted ones are receiving limited support from an undermined educational system.

2. weakened or made to collapse by removing underlying support, as by eroding or digging away the foundation.

   With the release of material from the undermined cliffs at these sites, we should have had far more sand to feed the beaches, not less.

3. deliberately weakened by an excavation or tunnel dug underneath, as by an enemy in war.

   When the town was besieged, its defenders abandoned the undermined walls and retired into the citadel.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of undermine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of undermined¹

undermine ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The process has undermined the public markets’ core purpose: enabling hardworking Americans to create long-term wealth.

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“Previous dovish signals have been largely undermined by the recent positive growth background and a scarce sense of urgency on supporting growth,” Morgan Stanley economist Kathleen Oh wrote in a note.

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In her email to leaders at the D.A.’s office, Jahanshahi wrote that she had been dealing with the mental toll of fighting for justice while being constantly undermined.

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They added that the report's findings on Sinn Féin members attending the funeral of Bobby Storey were "significant" and that the decision to attend "seriously undermined public trust".

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She also criticised his style of communication, which failed to "convey a proper sense of caution" and undermined official health messaging, she said.

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Related Words

• flawed