as in weakened
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 undermined
The cost of maintaining death row prisoners and a number of botched executions in recent years—lethal injections or gas administrations that take far too long to work, for example—have also undermined confidence.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
The union’s credibility is also undermined by its response to the fact-finding process.
—Marc Joffe, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
The zero-gravity bathroom humor might have undermined the moment, but the unifying message came through loud and clear.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
But our broken campaign finance system and revolving door political culture have undermined the very trust in public-private collaboration that is essential for a successful AI transition.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
His preposterous bluster about Greenland, Cuba, and NATO has undermined the postwar alliance.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
The stairs now are in poor shape and undermined at the bottom by beach erosion, but still in use, and restoration work is planned.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Yet for decades, this strategically important industry has been undermined by rampant customs fraud and chronic underinvestment in trade enforcement.
—Kim Glas, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
However, those efforts could be undermined by a recent increase in 2-year yields that threatens to compress excess spreads, according to Bank of America.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
The union’s credibility is also undermined by its response to the fact-finding process.
—Marc Joffe, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
The zero-gravity bathroom humor might have undermined the moment, but the unifying message came through loud and clear.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
But our broken campaign finance system and revolving door political culture have undermined the very trust in public-private collaboration that is essential for a successful AI transition.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
His preposterous bluster about Greenland, Cuba, and NATO has undermined the postwar alliance.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
The stairs now are in poor shape and undermined at the bottom by beach erosion, but still in use, and restoration work is planned.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Yet for decades, this strategically important industry has been undermined by rampant customs fraud and chronic underinvestment in trade enforcement.
—Kim Glas, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
However, those efforts could be undermined by a recent increase in 2-year yields that threatens to compress excess spreads, according to Bank of America.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermined
Verb
-
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed weakened rules governing the safe disposal of ash produced by burning coal.—
Michael Phillis,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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But these strengths are being weakened by leadership that has failed to prioritize affordability and competitiveness.—
Randy Altschuler,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If there was ever a notion that profanity isn’t befitting of the nation’s highest office, that standard has largely eroded.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Underlying the Persian Gulf itself is a basin filled with debris eroded from the rising of the Zagros Mountains.—
Scott L. Montgomery,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wielding an axe, the 26-year-old Englewood resident damaged the hoods and windows of a dozen cars parked in the lot, causing more than $75,000 in damage, prosecutors said.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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This is the 24th Cygnus spacecraft built, but 23rd to launch after the NG-22 mission was canceled when its spacecraft was damaged.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No tougher penalties for driving impaired by pot, which public safety officials say has become a major problem.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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Woods, prone in recent years to appearing in unfortunate headlines, is of course Woods seeking treatment following his March 27 arrest for suspicion of driving while impaired during a rollover car crash.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both cities stated that their systems were not compromised and no data breaches occurred as a result of the situation.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The messages claimed to provide access to recipients’ Social Security statements, and officials warned at the time that clicking the links could lead to identity theft, financial loss or compromised personal data.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit says the hospital did not tell his family that Hylton’s condition had deteriorated and that he had been transferred to the ICU without a doctor on-site.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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All the while, his injuries mounted and personal life deteriorated.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermined. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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