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
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
Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Poor oversight puts care at risk by draining resources, enabling unsafe practices, and undermining long-term sustainability.
—Miki Kapoor, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
By spreading distrust in the government, ICE is undermining public safety.
—Aubrey Jackson Soller, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2026
The clash raised fresh questions about whether Democrats are undermining their own momentum.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Weakening these networks risks undermining the social foundations of long-term economic growth.
—Sothy Eng, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Trump this week deployed border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota after this month’s fatal shootings of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, undermining Noem’s leadership of her department.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
And election officials across the country are warning that the administration’s combative approach is making their jobs harder and undermining Americans’ faith in the electoral process.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Powell argued the investigation was part of an attempt to intimidate the Fed for its interest rate decisions, undermining its independence.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
The Russian general was one of several GRU officials sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for wide-ranging malicious cyber activity directed at undermining US democratic processes.
—Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Poor oversight puts care at risk by draining resources, enabling unsafe practices, and undermining long-term sustainability.
—Miki Kapoor, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
By spreading distrust in the government, ICE is undermining public safety.
—Aubrey Jackson Soller, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2026
The clash raised fresh questions about whether Democrats are undermining their own momentum.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Weakening these networks risks undermining the social foundations of long-term economic growth.
—Sothy Eng, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Trump this week deployed border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota after this month’s fatal shootings of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, undermining Noem’s leadership of her department.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
And election officials across the country are warning that the administration’s combative approach is making their jobs harder and undermining Americans’ faith in the electoral process.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Powell argued the investigation was part of an attempt to intimidate the Fed for its interest rate decisions, undermining its independence.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
-
The erosion of physician fees by inflation has also been offset by an increase in volume.—
Chris Pope,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Any future erosion would have to come overwhelmingly from one of two places.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the big problem is why the dollar is weakening.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Nevertheless, proponents of the theory have suggested without evidence that the substation’s electromagnetic fields could be damaging players’ soft tissues and weakening their tendons.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The best way to avoid damaging your curls is to create an anchor point for your veil to adhere to.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Lajčák stepped down to avoid damaging his ally, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, but denies any material wrongdoing.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This chronic underfunding is eroding the dignity of aging and straining the health care system.—
Andrew Hevesi,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Protections for workers are eroding Nepal and Bangladesh are among several countries in Asia that rely heavily on remittances from migrant workers who are vulnerable to abuses despite decades of work aimed at protecting them.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Studies will examine both the therapeutic and impairing effects of cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA and alcohol.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Even a single variant can disrupt protein function by impairing subunit assembly and destabilizing the overall structure.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Other states have done so without compromising food safety.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The surgeon performing this type of rhinoplasty must carefully reshape the nasal structure without compromising strength or function.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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