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
Any behavior that undermines these standards will be addressed swiftly and seriously.
—
Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Dismantling these systems not only threatens health, but also undermines trust, often for reasons that have more to do with self-interest than science, with seeming imperviousness to the real costs in human lives lost.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
Again, critics say the company’s decision to operate a service that is dependent on plastic bags and requires extensive transport undermines their environmental bona fides.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
That undermines basic constitutional principles.
—Ilya Somin, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Undue’s research with doctors and patients also reveals how medical debt undermines their therapeutic relationship.
—Allison Sesso, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
On one hand, the enthusiasm almost undermines its own point; if such an event were actually common it wouldn’t be celebrated with such gusto.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
The report also undermines Orbán’s claims that Hungary has no option but to purchase Russian oil.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Prohibition undermines personal liberty, sends billions in potential revenue to other states, and sustains dangerous black markets instead of replacing them with a safe, regulated system.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Dismantling these systems not only threatens health, but also undermines trust, often for reasons that have more to do with self-interest than science, with seeming imperviousness to the real costs in human lives lost.
—Chelsea Clinton, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026
Again, critics say the company’s decision to operate a service that is dependent on plastic bags and requires extensive transport undermines their environmental bona fides.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
That undermines basic constitutional principles.
—Ilya Somin, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Undue’s research with doctors and patients also reveals how medical debt undermines their therapeutic relationship.
—Allison Sesso, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
On one hand, the enthusiasm almost undermines its own point; if such an event were actually common it wouldn’t be celebrated with such gusto.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
The report also undermines Orbán’s claims that Hungary has no option but to purchase Russian oil.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Prohibition undermines personal liberty, sends billions in potential revenue to other states, and sustains dangerous black markets instead of replacing them with a safe, regulated system.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermines
Verb
-
Privacy advocates argue that any ambiguity around storage or deletion timelines weakens public confidence.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Sending young people far from home weakens support systems and makes outcomes worse.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When voter registration statistics appear to exceed plausible eligible-population benchmarks, public confidence erodes, even if there is an administrative explanation.—
Reardon Sullivan,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Feb. 2026
-
That erodes the simplicity people often associate with owning physical gold.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 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
-
For example, if a hurricane destroys a school, a courthouse and 50 miles of roads in a city, FEMA will give the local government more money than if that same hurricane damages one building.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Low level light therapy While research is still mounting, studies suggest that exposing the skin to specific wavelengths of light can extend the growth phase of hair, reduce the inflammation that damages follicles and interferes with the growth cycle, and improve the density and thickness of hair.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermines. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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