Synonyms of undermines

undermines

verb

present tense third-person singular of undermine

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.

Related Words

• weakens
• erodes
• impairs
• damages
• compromises
• deteriorates
• destroys
• hurts
• injures
• cripples
• vitiates
• harms
• disfigures
• enfeebles
• enervates
• flaws
• shatters
• spoils
• defaces
• tarnishes
• crosses (up)
• mars
• breaks
• bloodies
• blights
• scours
• wears (away)
• washes out
• blemishes
• ruins
• crabs
• demolishes
• disables
• botches
• devastates
• endamages
• mutilates
• dents
• lacerates
• annihilates
• wounds
• mangles
• tortures
• decimates
• dings
• maims
• wrecks
• gums (up)
• torments
• pulverizes
• queers
• wastes
• clobbers
• smashes
• crushes
• wipes out
• hamstrings
• razes
• bashes
• dints
• desolates
• totals
• lames
• tears down
• does in
• dashes
• batters
• scourges
• bangs up

Dissimilar Words

• helps
• heals
• rehabilitates
• rectifies
• cures
• improves
• enhances
• revises
• remedies
• enriches
• refines
• edits
• ameliorates
• perfects
• remodels
• repairs
• betters
• reconstructs
• doctors
• rebuilds
• fixes
• renovates
• reconditions
• mends
• revamps
• patches
• meliorates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of undermines

The action sequences, meanwhile, are bloody but sterile and neat in a way that undermines the film’s wannabe grindhouse efforts. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

But, of course, the appearances surrounding her relationship with Vrabel undermines our audience’s confidence in her impartiality. — Mike Semel, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

The Board’s decision to retain Cornell as Executive Chairman, rather than appoint an independent chair, undermines its claim to a genuine management reset—particularly given that new CEO Michael Fiddelke is a 20+ year Target insider and former COO. — Tejal Patel, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

An overly aggressive posture undermines the partnership the city has worked to secure through 2030. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Criminalizing editorial judgment sets a dangerous precedent and undermines Bangladesh’s reputation as a democracy. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Power lies with consular officers, judge says Vargas said the policy also undermines the congressional requirement that puts consular officers at the forefront of any visa decision. — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Trade secret law is more promising for methodology kept genuinely confidential, though the publicity of the legal system undermines most such claims. — Hamid Kohan, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

But our current electronic monitoring system undermines those goals when it is used as a substitute for detention of dangerous defendants. — Eileen Burke, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026