Definition of destabilize
transitive verb
1 : to make unstable
2 : to cause (something, such as a government) to be incapable of functioning or surviving
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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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Calls for a bailout have been growing louder over worries that legions of angry middle-class savers — who bought the bank’s bonds and financed the deal — would destabilize Italy’s already wobbly government and nourish far-right parties.
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City officials ordered work on the gigantic home stopped three years ago amid claims by neighbors below that the hillside above their homes had been destabilized.
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But Russia is a nuclear power, and is working to destabilize the West by interfering in our elections.
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But Russia is a nuclear power, and is working to destabilize the West by interfering in our elections.
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Qatar’s policies have aligned with Iran’s to destabilize the region and spread terrorism.
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Too much of it creates toxic levels for humans and can overpopulate algae that destabilizes waterway ecosystems.
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What's new is that the CBO says that, by 2020, the new AHCA would destabilize the insurance markets in one-sixth of the country.
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Already, some counterinsurgency specialists warn, the unmanned attacks have been destabilizing to an already-fragile Pakistan government.
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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