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
Adopting the Southern view, the Supreme Court issued opinions that severely undermined the legal architecture of Reconstruction.
—
Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Adams himself chose not to run in the Democratic primary and initially mounted an independent campaign, but suspended his campaign in late September, saying that media speculation and funds withheld by the city's campaign finance board undermined his ability to fundraise.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
Debts are massive and while that isn’t bad in and of itself, the club’s grim past finances have undermined future confidence.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Hybe refused, and in response, the members of NewJeans went public with multiple complaints against the label, which included claims that Hybe had deliberately undermined their careers.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
And the facts are the Cuban regime has undermined democracies in our hemisphere.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Congress was moved to act at the urging of the major pro leagues’ commissioners, who testified in 1991 that sports betting undermined the integrity of games and invited corrupt influences.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
That would have underscored the Post’s independence, not undermined it.
—Jimmy Wales, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
One, David Hilton, undermined his predecessor and then went down in flames.
—Tom Freston, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Adams himself chose not to run in the Democratic primary and initially mounted an independent campaign, but suspended his campaign in late September, saying that media speculation and funds withheld by the city's campaign finance board undermined his ability to fundraise.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
Debts are massive and while that isn’t bad in and of itself, the club’s grim past finances have undermined future confidence.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Hybe refused, and in response, the members of NewJeans went public with multiple complaints against the label, which included claims that Hybe had deliberately undermined their careers.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
And the facts are the Cuban regime has undermined democracies in our hemisphere.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Congress was moved to act at the urging of the major pro leagues’ commissioners, who testified in 1991 that sports betting undermined the integrity of games and invited corrupt influences.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
That would have underscored the Post’s independence, not undermined it.
—Jimmy Wales, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
One, David Hilton, undermined his predecessor and then went down in flames.
—Tom Freston, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermined
Verb
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With some estimates putting wave heights as much as 35 feet, weakened hatch covers would have been vulnerable to such waves.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In particular, the city’s stormwater system is failing as pipes have eroded and caused sinkholes to pop up in some parts of the city.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
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But the Court’s authority itself has been eroded by years of partisan battles.—
Dan Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This surge in circulation delivers a fresh supply of oxygen and nutrients, which are crucial for repairing the microscopic muscle fibers that were stressed or slightly damaged during your previous workout.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The settlers also attacked the soldiers and damaged an Israeli military vehicle, the IDF said.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Decades of international isolation had severely impaired its development.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The 35-year-old is severely hearing impaired and has limited ability to speak.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In another case, a 65-year-old caterer reportedly lost $162,000 when a friendly woman pretending to be a bank employee claimed her ATM card had been compromised.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Republicans argue that neutrality was compromised years earlier, and by the very officials raising alarms today.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But just an hour later, the wife received a call from the home telling her that his condition had deteriorated and he was being sent to Hialeah Hospital.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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The judge said the missing video could have shown whether deputies or medical staff had checked on Schuck or ignored him as his condition deteriorated.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undermined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermined. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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