as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction
the view that the constant mudslinging and negative campaigning contributes to the undermining of the public's faith in politics and government
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in weakening
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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of undermining
Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Long commute times are certainly frustrating, but continual undermining of mass transit projects isn’t going to solve the problem.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
What is the purpose of this layering and undermining of the story’s authenticity?
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The undermining of an independent judiciary.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Flores and Cantello also said many of their colleagues were placed on administrative leave after signing a letter of dissent criticizing EPA leadership’s undermining of public trust and disregard for scientific consensus.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Keith Laing, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
As inside sources told Business Insider, the tech giant quietly pulled its Blue Jay robot just months after its announcement, undermining its claims of taking advantage of recent advancements in AI tech.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 19 Feb. 2026
Pierce, whose portfolio included work on refugee and asylum services, was told that her office, by virtue of specializing in humanitarian relief, was undermining the President’s agenda.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Unless regulators crack down on these deepfakes, the videos threaten to steer even more patients toward wasteful, potentially dangerous purchases — while further undermining the public’s already faltering trust in medical institutions.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The Senate should advance ethical AI frameworks, protect privacy, establish clear accountability, invest in workforce retraining programs, and ensure innovation benefits all sectors without undermining safety or civil liberties.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Broad political characterizations oversimplify complex legal processes and risk undermining confidence in an independent judiciary.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Democratic lawmakers have sharply criticized both the raid and Gabbard’s involvement, arguing the actions risk undermining public confidence in elections ahead of the midterm cycle.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
The shorter trips to Europe don’t require as many of the largest tankers—undermining demand for the deepwater terminals.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
This is a direct undermining of the idea of art.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Long commute times are certainly frustrating, but continual undermining of mass transit projects isn’t going to solve the problem.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
What is the purpose of this layering and undermining of the story’s authenticity?
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The undermining of an independent judiciary.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Flores and Cantello also said many of their colleagues were placed on administrative leave after signing a letter of dissent criticizing EPA leadership’s undermining of public trust and disregard for scientific consensus.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Prior federal probes also looked at whether Tesla's Autopilot system may have been exacerbating human driver behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
As inside sources told Business Insider, the tech giant quietly pulled its Blue Jay robot just months after its announcement, undermining its claims of taking advantage of recent advancements in AI tech.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 19 Feb. 2026
Pierce, whose portfolio included work on refugee and asylum services, was told that her office, by virtue of specializing in humanitarian relief, was undermining the President’s agenda.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Unless regulators crack down on these deepfakes, the videos threaten to steer even more patients toward wasteful, potentially dangerous purchases — while further undermining the public’s already faltering trust in medical institutions.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The Senate should advance ethical AI frameworks, protect privacy, establish clear accountability, invest in workforce retraining programs, and ensure innovation benefits all sectors without undermining safety or civil liberties.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Broad political characterizations oversimplify complex legal processes and risk undermining confidence in an independent judiciary.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Democratic lawmakers have sharply criticized both the raid and Gabbard’s involvement, arguing the actions risk undermining public confidence in elections ahead of the midterm cycle.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
The shorter trips to Europe don’t require as many of the largest tankers—undermining demand for the deepwater terminals.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
-
Brands that respond to uncertainty through promotions potentially risk accelerating the erosion of their long-term brand equity — and failing to answer how a brand justifies its price over time.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Blizzard conditions, several inches of snow, high winds and beach erosion brought states from Maryland to Maine to a standstill.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There is, at present, some evidence for dark energy weakening over time, although the results from the DESI collaboration, which provide the strongest evidence to date for such a scenario, are highly ambiguous.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Evidenced by no-confidence votes and faculty demonstrations, a sizable number of professors hold weakening trust in their institution's administrators.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Use a suede brush, limited water, and a suede-safe cleaner to gently clean your boots without damaging them.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Twice a day during high tide, water will come up over the retaining wall and flood the area, damaging the trees.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The moral fiber of this country is eroding fast, based on lack of love for one another, divisions in this country, greed, and the partisan bickering from American political leaders.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Issues like new forms of energy, natural disasters, global warming — these forces are now eroding traditions and cultures that once continued almost effortlessly in Japan.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This leads to worsening loss of movement, impairing the ability to walk, use the hands and arms, speak, chew, and swallow.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Chronic stress strains your heart, impedes immune function, interferes with digestion, even risks impairing focus and memory.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That would seem to drive some urgency among Democrats, but many are not in a compromising mood to provide more dollars to immigration enforcement.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Due to the intensity of the fire compromising the structure, Sacramento Fire says crews have taken a defensive posture.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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