as in to weaken
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 undermine
Only one in five workers was fully engaged; one in seven actively undermined the firm.
—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
The strikes, as well as what an Israeli official said were multiple efforts by Hezbollah to target Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon overnight, have quickly undermined a ceasefire that only came into effect late Friday.
—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Instead, Defendants appear to be actively undermining the restoration of the Kennedy Center’s name, in a petty act of defiance.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 June 2026
Curtains can also undermine a beautiful room if they're improperly installed.
—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for undermine
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
The strikes, as well as what an Israeli official said were multiple efforts by Hezbollah to target Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon overnight, have quickly undermined a ceasefire that only came into effect late Friday.
—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Instead, Defendants appear to be actively undermining the restoration of the Kennedy Center’s name, in a petty act of defiance.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 June 2026
Curtains can also undermine a beautiful room if they're improperly installed.
—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for undermine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermine
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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Aphasia impairs a person's ability to speak.
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Additionally, poor gut health may impair nutrient absorption and increase systemic inflammation, which Sahaya notes can manifest externally on the skin.
Verb
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That pressure erodes well-being, undermines family life, and disproportionately impacts working parents and caregivers.
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Starmer is leaving after two years in office marred by missteps and judgment errors that eroded his standing with his party and the public.
Verb
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The storms damaged at least 20 homes in the county, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Keith Hertenstein said.
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Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
Verb
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Karstrom pointed to the now-complete Downtown Streetscape project, which tied up much of the village’s downtown with road work last summer, as an example of the way local businesses can suffer when parking availability is compromised.
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Modern engineering leadership is about simplifying the system by reducing friction, increasing accountability and leveraging AI to help teams move faster without compromising quality or reliability.
Cite this Entry
“Undermine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermine. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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