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
Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Moreover, Lane observes, the Symposium offers dueling narratives in its rhetorical speeches, undermining the conceit that the text pushes for ideological prescriptions.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
The politicization of science is undermining the scientific method itself, the co-founder of the biotech firm Moderna warned.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Critics argue that AHPs may segment the market by attracting healthier people, thereby undermining ACA risk pools and increasing costs for sicker enrollees.
—Justin Leventhal, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Environmental and labor leaders say the pause is costing thousands of jobs and undermining energy independence.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The oil downturn and currency devaluation of the early 1980s shook Venezuelan society deeply, hollowing out the middle class and undermining trust in political institutions.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026
Defense attorney Leah Gillis countered that sequestering jurors would chill candid discussion and signal that open conversations about bias are not tolerated, undermining the goal of an impartial jury.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 6 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
Cho’s team argued in court that Yoon sought to prolong his hold on power by undermining South Korea’s constitutional system of governance.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
Moreover, Lane observes, the Symposium offers dueling narratives in its rhetorical speeches, undermining the conceit that the text pushes for ideological prescriptions.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
The politicization of science is undermining the scientific method itself, the co-founder of the biotech firm Moderna warned.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Critics argue that AHPs may segment the market by attracting healthier people, thereby undermining ACA risk pools and increasing costs for sicker enrollees.
—Justin Leventhal, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Environmental and labor leaders say the pause is costing thousands of jobs and undermining energy independence.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The oil downturn and currency devaluation of the early 1980s shook Venezuelan society deeply, hollowing out the middle class and undermining trust in political institutions.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026
Defense attorney Leah Gillis countered that sequestering jurors would chill candid discussion and signal that open conversations about bias are not tolerated, undermining the goal of an impartial jury.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
-
The house that burned was one small piece of a larger unraveling — the erosion not just of walls but of trust.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
-
On a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay, a deeply rooted Christian fishing community confronts the erosion of land and tradition, as their centuries-old way of life, anchored in faith, approaches a turning point.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.—
Charlotte Kramon,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Freezing foods quickly helps preserve texture by preventing large ice crystals from damaging delicate cell walls.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ride-hailing dominance is eroding consumer brand perception Market dynamics show that ride-hailing operators prioritize vehicles that deliver the strongest cost-to-performance ratio, often selecting models purely on economic efficiency.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
-
But inflation and low interest rates end up eroding the value of household savings.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Low copper causes weakness by lowering energy production and impairing iron and healthy blood cells throughout the body.—
Kirstyn Hill,
Health,
29 Dec. 2025
-
The commerce clause allows Congress to deal with interstate commerce and seeks to prevent states from impairing it.—
Ford Turner Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Autoliv and Tensor say their co-developed system is intended to remove those constraints without compromising safety.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Sustainability in travel is the respectful enjoyment of a destination’s environment without compromising the ability for future generations to do the same.—
Marcia Simon,
Hartford Courant,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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