as in weakens
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 undermines
Pribisco said the bill undermines public trust and perception of officers in communities that already have heavy interactions with police officers.
—
Marta Zherukha, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Requiring them to operate as ordinary MPIA applicants misunderstands their role and undermines their purpose.
—Vaughn Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said a disappointing February employment report undermines the notion that the US labor market was stabilizing.
—Catarina Saraiva, Bloomberg, 6 Mar. 2026
Every poor, slow or pernickety decision undermines the good, depicting VAR as needlessly intrusive and a hindrance to the spectacle.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Candidates are exercising their right to run, and telling them to withdraw undermines democratic principles and the freedom of choice that should define elections.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In an arbitration claim, Del Rio says evidence that undermines the allegations wasn’t fully considered before he was terminated.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
The omission undermines the report’s entire traffic analysis and underscores an overall lack of transparency, as required by CEQA, according to the letter.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
But dismissing public servants as lazy, overpaid or uncaring ignores the reality of the people doing the work — and undermines our ability to attract the talent needed to govern well.
—John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Marta Zherukha, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Requiring them to operate as ordinary MPIA applicants misunderstands their role and undermines their purpose.
—Vaughn Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said a disappointing February employment report undermines the notion that the US labor market was stabilizing.
—Catarina Saraiva, Bloomberg, 6 Mar. 2026
Every poor, slow or pernickety decision undermines the good, depicting VAR as needlessly intrusive and a hindrance to the spectacle.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Candidates are exercising their right to run, and telling them to withdraw undermines democratic principles and the freedom of choice that should define elections.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In an arbitration claim, Del Rio says evidence that undermines the allegations wasn’t fully considered before he was terminated.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
The omission undermines the report’s entire traffic analysis and underscores an overall lack of transparency, as required by CEQA, according to the letter.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
But dismissing public servants as lazy, overpaid or uncaring ignores the reality of the people doing the work — and undermines our ability to attract the talent needed to govern well.
—John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermines
Verb
-
Dark money significantly weakens democracy.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Even as the wealth tax debate weakens Khanna’s support among Silicon Valley heavyweights, this may not be enough to unseat him, Maviglio said, noting the tax would affect fewer than 250 people in the state.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When that confidence erodes, the legitimacy of the entire system is placed at risk.—
Keith Wortz,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Public trust erodes when resources concentrate at the top.—
Michael Sonnenfeldt,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Paralytic polio occurs when the virus damages motor neurons that control muscles.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Tornado damages Tulsa homes, school campus The damage from the Friday, March 6, storms extended across wide swaths of eastern Oklahoma, including north Tulsa.—
Richard Mize,
Oklahoman,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermines. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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