UNDERMINE Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

undermine

verb

Definition of undermine

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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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 Netanyahu is targeting a record seventh term but faces hawkish candidates who blame him for undermining national security. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Aron said that the increasingly popular practice of tokenization allows the brokerage to create exposure to AMC stock without the issuing company's involvement, undermining the traditional relationship between companies and their shareholders. — Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026 Family conflicts related to inheritance are already among the most common factors undermining wealth transfers. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Last week, OutKick explained how Magnus undermined his own edict and vision by hiring back Stan Verrett to host a throwaway show on NFL Network. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undermine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermine

Verb

Dairy cows are producing less milk and birthing fewer or weakened calves.

— Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Though Hurricane Marie continues to weaken in the southern Pacific Ocean — and is expected to remain hundreds of miles off the Southern California coastline — the region can still expect to feel some effects from the storm over the next few days.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

The Folsom Police Department will hold a sobriety checkpoint Friday night to identify drivers suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs.

— Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of impair

Verb

While lenders initially benefit from higher income, boosting investment returns, that advantage can be eroded if weaker companies struggle to service their debt.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
Though liberal institutions survived formally, the social and economic settlement that sustained them had begun to erode.

— Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of erode

Verb

Extensive lines backed up at Kauai's primary airport as people tried to leave the island; state officials said the airport was operating on a lone backup generator because a second generator was damaged by the storm.

— GENE JOHNSON, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
The precise composition of ancient Egyptian paints, binders, adhesives, and similar materials used to make artifacts is largely unknown, in part because a full analysis would require taking samples that would damage those valuable artifacts.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

After all, that was the group that revolutionized last year’s offense from strong but static to unpredictable and setting a league-wide trend with 13 personnel and dominated on play-action and in the run game with defenses consistently compromised.

— Nate Atkins, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Attackers compromised a single support agent’s account and, according to Discord’s own statement, exposed roughly 70,000 government ID photos.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of compromise

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“Undermine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermine. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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