Definition of destabilize
transitive verb
1 : to make unstable
2 : to cause (something, such as a government) to be incapable of functioning or surviving
From the M-W Editors
Examples of destabilize in a Sentence
The group hoped the assassination of the new President would destabilize the government.
Economists warn that the crisis could destabilize the nation's currency.
Recent Examples of destabilize from the Web
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That development would drive up rates for the Americans buying more comprehensive coverage on the individual market, which could in turn destabilize the entire market.
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That development would drive up rates for the Americans buying more comprehensive coverage on the individual market, which could in turn destabilize the entire market.
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The growing number of deportations thanks to the Trump administration’s fixation on undocumented immigrants has now destabilized the agricultural work force.
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The state just picked Tesla to install the world’s largest grid-scale battery with the aim of stabilizing a grid that has been destabilized by rapid growth in unpredictable renewable power.
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There is a similar debate over whether this individual break will destabilize the ice shelf and lead to further disintegration.
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Finally, American alliances have been destabilized.
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Despite Mr. Trump's very public attempts to befriend President Xi Jinping -- including at his Mar-a-Lago resort -- Beijing remains strongly opposed to action that would destabilize Kim Jong Un's regime.
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There are also other factors putting stress on the drug traffickers, like the legalization of marijuana in some U.S. states, which destabilized drug profits and forced some organizations to rely heavily on heroin smuggling.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'destabilize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of destabilize
1924
DESTABILIZE Defined for English Language Learners
destabilize
playDefinition of destabilize for English Language Learners
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: to cause (something, such as a government) to be unable to continue existing or working in the usual or desired way : to make (something) unstable
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