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
Critics are alarmed by its presence at the White House, saying the group promotes extreme views and undermines public schools.
—
Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
But this undermines the premise of personal style.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 9 Apr. 2026
In response, Varsity and USASF have argued that the Open Championship’s own growth, both in terms of participant numbers and event revenue, undermines the notion that the defendants illegally stifled competition.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Anything less undermines public trust.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
That's where a court battle is playing out between Sheriff Chad Bianco, a prominent election denier running for governor, and Democrats who say a seizure of more than 60,000 ballots from a prior election is a political stunt that undermines public trust in voting.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
Critics, however, said the new law undermines democratic principles by replacing electoral legitimacy with presidential appointment.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
That said, any form of misconduct or behavior that undermines professionalism has no place in this department.
—Opinion Staff, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
But Borgli undermines his premise—ironically, by attempting to substantiate it.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
But this undermines the premise of personal style.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 9 Apr. 2026
In response, Varsity and USASF have argued that the Open Championship’s own growth, both in terms of participant numbers and event revenue, undermines the notion that the defendants illegally stifled competition.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Anything less undermines public trust.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
That's where a court battle is playing out between Sheriff Chad Bianco, a prominent election denier running for governor, and Democrats who say a seizure of more than 60,000 ballots from a prior election is a political stunt that undermines public trust in voting.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
Critics, however, said the new law undermines democratic principles by replacing electoral legitimacy with presidential appointment.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
That said, any form of misconduct or behavior that undermines professionalism has no place in this department.
—Opinion Staff, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
But Borgli undermines his premise—ironically, by attempting to substantiate it.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermines
Verb
-
Even if the petrodollar weakens, dollar dominance still rests on other factors that other currencies can’t match, according to Paul Blustein, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
When asked to comment, Apple pointed to previous statements, saying that the DMA discourages innovation, weakens privacy protections, delays or degrades product launches and increases security risks.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That reflex delays care and erodes trust.—
Liz Koch,
STAT,
6 Apr. 2026
-
When people fear being replaced or don’t know what’s coming, trust erodes.—
Michael Bush,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The National Sleep Foundation concluded there isn’t enough evidence to confirm that blue light from screens before bed reliably impairs adult sleep.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
-
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Over the long run, missing the market's best days damages your returns.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Military advocates warn that deporting service members’ spouses damages recruitment and morale, undermining national security interests.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermines. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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