undermining
Americannoun
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the act or process of injuring, attacking, or destroying something or someone indirectly or by imperceptible degrees, often leading to a dramatic collapse.
The undermining of Scottish Gaelic as a viable language resulted not from decrees, but from a gradual weakening of independent Scottish institutions.
-
the act or process of weakening something or causing it to collapse by removing its underlying support, as by erosion.
During the heavy rains, blocked sewers caused the flooding of the basement and the undermining of the wall by water.
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the act of digging or tunneling underneath something, as a military stronghold.
The siege works were now close enough to allow the undermining of some of the bastions of the fortress.
adjective
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weakening something or someone gradually or indirectly.
Seating students in rows, so they cannot see each other’s faces, has an undermining effect on their engagement.
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digging or tunneling underneath something, or removing or eroding its underlying support.
The land along the shoreline collapsed because of undermining waves and currents.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of undermining
First recorded in 1350–1400; undermin(e) ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses; undermin(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses
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.
Undermining those conditions weakens U.S. firms far more than it disciplines foreign competitors.
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
Undermining that reach weakens the industrial base and our ability to lead.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025
Undermining FDA’s authority could upend the United States’ long-held leadership in drug development, with ripple effects on access to therapeutics in other countries.
From Washington Post • Apr. 18, 2023
Undermining the privacy of WhatsApp messages in the UK would do so for all users, Mr Cathcart said.
From BBC • Mar. 9, 2023
"Undermining the bases—undermining the bases"—smilingly repeated the Prince, who had boundless confidence in the intelligence and honesty of his liberal comrade and friend.
From The Awakening The Resurrection by Tolstoy, Leo, graf
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.
