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
The lower court’s decisions invalidated a policy of prime importance to the President and his Administration in a manner that undermines our border security.
—
Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The defense secretary is upending decades-old norms, current and former leaders say, with some cautioning that his proselytizing violates the Constitution and undermines troop cohesion.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Like with soccer, playing dirty only undermines the sanctity of the game.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The fact that the same software enabled such a range of idiosyncratic styles decisively undermines any claim of a causal relationship between Gehry’s digital tools and his formal vocabulary.
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
Last month Carr told Semafor that moving sports behind paywalls undermines a mission to keep local news afloat.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Termini counters DraftKings’ assertion that the NCAA’s deal with Genius Sports undermines its position.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026
While the state’s income tax provides about 65% of Missouri’s general revenue, Republicans have framed it as an unfair tax that undermines economic growth by taxing productivity and creativity.
—Kevin Hardy, States Newsroom, 24 Mar. 2026
One of the points opponents of Mississippi’s law, and similar laws in 13 other states, have made is how counting ballots that roll in after Election Day undermines public confidence in elections.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The defense secretary is upending decades-old norms, current and former leaders say, with some cautioning that his proselytizing violates the Constitution and undermines troop cohesion.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Like with soccer, playing dirty only undermines the sanctity of the game.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The fact that the same software enabled such a range of idiosyncratic styles decisively undermines any claim of a causal relationship between Gehry’s digital tools and his formal vocabulary.
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
Last month Carr told Semafor that moving sports behind paywalls undermines a mission to keep local news afloat.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Termini counters DraftKings’ assertion that the NCAA’s deal with Genius Sports undermines its position.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026
While the state’s income tax provides about 65% of Missouri’s general revenue, Republicans have framed it as an unfair tax that undermines economic growth by taxing productivity and creativity.
—Kevin Hardy, States Newsroom, 24 Mar. 2026
One of the points opponents of Mississippi’s law, and similar laws in 13 other states, have made is how counting ballots that roll in after Election Day undermines public confidence in elections.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermines
Verb
-
Similar to airline tickets or ride-sharing fares, prices may rise when demand exceeds available seats and fall when demand weakens.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This shift ignores local differences and weakens a decentralized model that has allowed rules to be tailored to the realities of each state.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When people fear being replaced or don’t know what’s coming, trust erodes.—
Michael Bush,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Others contend that legitimizing him erodes Democratic credibility on antisemitism and other issues, handing Republicans ammunition heading into the midterms.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Researchers believe the cave’s permanent darkness impairs the spiders’ vision, creating an unlikely truce between predator and prey.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers believe the cave’s poor lighting impairs the spiders’ vision, creating an unlikely truce between the species.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Children are more likely to suffer from HUS, which damages blood vessels, according to the Mayo Clinic.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
-
This exposure damages the DNA in skin cells and can trigger changes that cause those cells to grow out of control and turn cancerous.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermines. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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