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.
- blemish,
- bloody,
- break,
- compromise,
- crab,
- cripple,
- cross (up),
- damage,
- deface,
- disfigure,
- endamage,
- flaw,
- harm,
- hurt,
- impair,
- injure,
- mar,
- spoil,
- vitiate
- annihilate,
- bang up,
- bash,
- batter,
- clobber,
- crush,
- dash,
- decimate,
- demolish,
- desolate,
- destroy,
- devastate,
- do in,
- pulverize,
- raze,
- ruin,
- scourge,
- shatter,
- smash,
- tear down,
- total,
- waste,
- wipe out,
- wreck
Frequently Asked Questions About undermine
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
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Time Traveler for undermine
The first known use of undermine was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century