undermine

Synonym Chooser

How is the word undermine distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of undermine are cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think

When is cripple a more appropriate choice than undermine?

The meanings of cripple and undermine largely overlap; however, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.

crippled by arthritis

When can debilitate be used instead of undermine?

While the synonyms debilitate and undermine are close in meaning, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When could disable be used to replace undermine?

The words disable and undermine can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

When is it sensible to use enfeeble instead of undermine?

Although the words enfeeble and undermine have much in common, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

When might weaken be a better fit than undermine?

The words weaken and undermine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of undermine Provost Jenny Martinez is vastly more accepting of athletics than her predecessor, Persis Drell, who might have done more to undermine football than anyone else on campus. Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025 Elkind warned that fragmented land use planning could undermine high-speed rail. Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Meanwhile, the president is also seeking to undermine the independence of other powerful U.S. entities, including the Federal Reserve. Maria Aspan, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025 Morales, who is barred from running due to term limits, has urged supporters to cast blank votes — a move seen by many as an attempt to undermine Senate President Andrónico Rodríguez, who is running independently under the Popular Alliance banner. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undermine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermine
Verb
  • This means banana particles can remain between teeth for an extended period, giving bacteria more time to produce acids that weaken tooth enamel.14 6.
    Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 13 Aug. 2025
  • For Trump, whose political brand has long relied on projecting authenticity to his base, a sustained decline in honesty ratings could weaken his ability to roll out his agenda.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
    Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 13 Aug. 2025
  • These kinds of environments can impair the development of healthy coping strategies.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory.
    USA Today, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
  • It’s been a brutal year for journalism, with mass layoffs, corporate capitulation, and distrust of traditional media eroding the industry.
    Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Hailey has an even rarer type of the illness, an extreme form of hemophilia B. That means bleeding inside his body could damage organs or tissue and quickly put his life at risk.
    Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Responsible democratic governments serious about making immigration politically viable must also be willing to compromise.
    Alexander Kustov, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2025
  • But Dickinson stayed focused, made strategic shifts, and refused to compromise.
    Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Undermine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermine. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

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