as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction
the view that the constant mudslinging and negative campaigning contributes to the undermining of the public's faith in politics and government
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in weakening
to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way
She tried to undermine my authority by complaining about me to my boss. The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of undermining
John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The undermining of an independent judiciary.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Flores and Cantello also said many of their colleagues were placed on administrative leave after signing a letter of dissent criticizing EPA leadership’s undermining of public trust and disregard for scientific consensus.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
Examples of creative destruction include e-commerce disrupting retail, streaming services replacing videocassette and DVD rentals and internet advertising undermining newspaper advertising.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Biya, Museveni, Outtara, and others have held on to power by undermining political dissent.
—semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2025
In 2023, TechInsights conducted a separate teardown that revealed a Huawei smartphone relied on memory chips from South Korea’s SK Hynix — undermining claims that the device was entirely made with Chinese technology.
—PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2025
The report also warns that increasing ocean acidification can disrupt ocean currents that are important for regulating marine climate and global weather patterns, leading to more intense climate extremes and undermining agricultural stability.
—Abc Climate Unit, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Water scarcity is undermining agricultural production in one of the region’s most fertile areas, threatening food security and rural livelihoods.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Pynchon’s absurdism is his way of grappling with and undermining the awful too-muchness and stupidity of it all — especially of the American project and its many tentacles.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
The liberties taken elsewhere also go a long way toward undermining the series’ closing message of near-universal empathy.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
What is the purpose of this layering and undermining of the story’s authenticity?
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The undermining of an independent judiciary.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Flores and Cantello also said many of their colleagues were placed on administrative leave after signing a letter of dissent criticizing EPA leadership’s undermining of public trust and disregard for scientific consensus.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
And this misapplication, whether through inappropriate comparisons and limited context, or a disregard for methodological boundaries, risks undermining both consumer and stakeholder trust in sustainability claims and data integrity—and misleading investments and interventions.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
Examples of creative destruction include e-commerce disrupting retail, streaming services replacing videocassette and DVD rentals and internet advertising undermining newspaper advertising.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Biya, Museveni, Outtara, and others have held on to power by undermining political dissent.
—semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2025
In 2023, TechInsights conducted a separate teardown that revealed a Huawei smartphone relied on memory chips from South Korea’s SK Hynix — undermining claims that the device was entirely made with Chinese technology.
—PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2025
The report also warns that increasing ocean acidification can disrupt ocean currents that are important for regulating marine climate and global weather patterns, leading to more intense climate extremes and undermining agricultural stability.
—Abc Climate Unit, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Water scarcity is undermining agricultural production in one of the region’s most fertile areas, threatening food security and rural livelihoods.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Pynchon’s absurdism is his way of grappling with and undermining the awful too-muchness and stupidity of it all — especially of the American project and its many tentacles.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
The liberties taken elsewhere also go a long way toward undermining the series’ closing message of near-universal empathy.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
-
The storm is expected to cause widespread power outages, flooding, and beach erosion so severe that some beaches may no longer exist.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Previously the billionaire banker has warned the American economy is weakening, saying in September following a measly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that whether that weakness spills into economic contraction remains to be seen.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The tariffs inadvertently advantage Asia and other offshore producers by weakening textile and apparel supply chains in the Western Hemisphere.—
Kimberly Glas,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That damaging psychic weight of insecurity and self-blame seeps into our society and politics, where polls show a stubborn and longtime trend of declining faith in a better future.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Several police officers reported that rioters were forcibly removing and damaging their equipment.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Polls show Jones' support eroding, and experts like Farnsworth believe even a win in November won’t erase the damage.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
In a new essay co-written with Harvard University professor Robert Waldinger — titled The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World — Kate, 43, reflected on how technology is eroding our ability to truly connect.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Air pollution, such as diesel exhaust, can have the opposite effect, impairing Treg cell function and contributing to inflammatory diseases such as asthma.—
Mitzi Nagarkatti,
The Conversation,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The researchers speculate that increases in fine particulate matter could be reducing running performance by constricting blood vessels, increasing inflammation, and impairing lung and brain function, but further research is needed to pin down the exact mechanisms at play.—
Claire Maldarelli,
Scientific American,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Smartly priced and packed with innovative ingredients, Korean eye creams deliver visible results without compromising comfort.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
-
How smoothly Tesla scales production without compromising supply stability or quality will be a key measure of success.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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