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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Recent Examples of undermining
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
ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
Negotiations serve not only to address collective goods but also increasingly to secure geopolitical advantage, often undermining cooperative outcomes.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Additionally, submitting the list only weeks before the fiscal year ends, lawmakers must choose between accepting the plan and risking undermining Congress’s decisions on federal spending, or fighting and risking the money disappearing when the deadline passes, the paper added.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
At the same time, though, business leaders are presumably well aware that Trump is undermining the laws and norms on which commerce is based.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Many analysts and activists say this is the result of decades of Israeli policy aimed at sabotaging the two-state solution by building Jewish settlements on Palestinian land and undermining the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the territory.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Filter Out Sensitive Or Harmful Training Data Thoughtful data design, like filtering out sensitive or harmful training content, can make AI systems safer without undermining their intelligence.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Resources shift from productive activity to lobbying, undermining both fairness and growth.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Caracas insists the buildup is part of a broader campaign directed at undermining President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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, frankly, James Comey is one of the main culprits in undermining the public's trust in agencies like the FBI.
—ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
Negotiations serve not only to address collective goods but also increasingly to secure geopolitical advantage, often undermining cooperative outcomes.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Additionally, submitting the list only weeks before the fiscal year ends, lawmakers must choose between accepting the plan and risking undermining Congress’s decisions on federal spending, or fighting and risking the money disappearing when the deadline passes, the paper added.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
At the same time, though, business leaders are presumably well aware that Trump is undermining the laws and norms on which commerce is based.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Many analysts and activists say this is the result of decades of Israeli policy aimed at sabotaging the two-state solution by building Jewish settlements on Palestinian land and undermining the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the territory.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Filter Out Sensitive Or Harmful Training Data Thoughtful data design, like filtering out sensitive or harmful training content, can make AI systems safer without undermining their intelligence.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Resources shift from productive activity to lobbying, undermining both fairness and growth.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Caracas insists the buildup is part of a broader campaign directed at undermining President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
-
Since 1850, the island has lost two-thirds of its landmass due to erosion and rising sea level.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The film captures the artist’s confrontation with age, mortality and time’s erosion.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a major ally to China, South Africa recently intensified pressure to move the embassy in July ahead of another meeting in November that Xi is expected to attend—attempting to signal that South Africa was weakening ties with Taiwan, as China had demanded.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
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The economy has slowed, weakening the labor market and forcing the Federal Reserve last week to trim its benchmark short-term interest rate by a quarter percentage point as inflation edges up and amid ongoing tariff uncertainty.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The beginning of the season is off to an unsettled start as Middle Tennessee is forecasted to experience several days of potentially severe weather, including damaging winds and heavy downpours.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Ukrainian drones struck the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast on June 27, damaging or destroying four Su-34s.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An additional 23 metros are currently perfectly market, according to the real estate brokerage—which still represents a positive shift for buyers after years of rising home prices and eroding purchasing power.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Unfortunately, the administration’s actions are eroding such trust.—
Sheldon Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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First, the rules under which community associations operate emphasize the protections of the residents’ rights, while not unduly impairing the ability of the association to carry out their responsibilities to the community as a whole.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Dansko Lizanne Booties Adding a boho twist on the classic bootie, the wooden clog base on these shoes gives you a subtle lift without compromising comfort.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Sep. 2025
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Lando Norris also brushed against the wall, compromising his fast run in Q3.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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