Synonyms of undermining

undermining 1 of 2

noun

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

• erosion
• corrosion
• waste
• decomposition
• attrition
• breakdown
• decay
• disintegration
• dissolution

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• gain
• buildup

undermining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of undermine

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.

Related Words

• weakening
• damaging
• eroding
• impairing
• compromising
• deteriorating
• destroying
• hurting
• harming
• injuring
• crippling
• spoiling
• enfeebling
• vitiating
• marring
• enervating
• defacing
• disfiguring
• shattering
• breaking
• crossing (up)
• tarnishing
• bloodying
• wearing (away)
• scouring
• ruining
• blighting
• denting
• crabbing
• blemishing
• flawing
• washing out
• wrecking
• endamaging
• demolishing
• torturing
• wounding
• botching
• disabling
• hamstringing
• mutilating
• queering
• tormenting
• lacerating
• devastating
• wasting
• crushing
• decimating
• annihilating
• maiming
• dinging
• mangling
• battering
• dinting
• smashing
• pulverizing
• gumming (up)
• clobbering
• bashing
• razing
• wiping out
• totaling
• tearing down
• dashing
• desolating
• laming
• scourging
• doing in
• banging up

Dissimilar Words

• helping
• healing
• curing
• rehabilitating
• remedying
• rectifying
• improving
• revising
• enhancing
• remodeling
• editing
• enriching
• perfecting
• refining
• ameliorating
• bettering
• repairing
• rebuilding
• fixing
• reconstructing
• renovating
• revamping
• patching
• mending
• reconditioning
• meliorating
• doctoring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of undermining

Noun

The fine reflected an improper disclosure of a draft candidate’s data and the undermining of trade secrets. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 June 2026

The concentration of power in one person, the undermining of elections, disregarding the rule of law, the weakening checks and balances, and replacing constitutional loyalty with personal loyalty. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026

This is a direct undermining of the idea of art. — Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026

Long commute times are certainly frustrating, but continual undermining of mass transit projects isn’t going to solve the problem. — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026

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

Continuing to charge purchases, especially on the credit cards that are not enrolled in the plan, adds new interest at the same elevated rates while the original debt is still being resolved — undermining the entire point of the program. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Nigerian news groups had in March complained to President Bola Tinubu, alleging Alphabet, Meta, and X were among firms whose extraction of content from local publishers was undermining the press industry. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 10 July 2026

Scholars have noted that Belmont’s focus on protection neglects the importance of research equal access, undermining data relevance and other benefits of research participation. — Stephanie Haridopolos, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026

My priority is finding a balanced approach that makes homeownership more affordable without shifting costs onto renters or undermining the quality of life that Floridians expect. — Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

Defense attorneys had fought against the public release of the statements from Twiggs, saying prosecutors would characterize the statements as a confession, undermining Robinson’s right to a fair trial if the statements are broadcast by the media. — Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

American universities face a severe crisis of academic freedom and institutional autonomy, with state laws and internal policies increasingly dictating curriculum and undermining faculty governance. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Research has shown that shifts in soil pH to higher acidity can reduce the growth of some microbes, undermining plant-microbe partnerships that have evolved over millions of years. — Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, The Conversation, 8 July 2026

The Ukrainian leader also suggested that Kyiv's expanding drone attacks would unsettle Russian elites, further undermining Putin's Kremlin. — David Brennan, ABC News, 7 July 2026