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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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
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
Ironically, an Administration that claims to champion free markets is actively undermining the free flow of information that makes markets work.
—Andrew Behar, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Many in leadership continue to not acknowledge or understand that behaviors such as exclusion, undermining, or chronic incivility can all be examples of bullying and can come at extreme costs.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
If that happens, the phone platform will still be needed, undermining the cost-savings in the proposal touted by supervisors.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026
Robbie Gibb, the board member accused of undermining the broadcaster from within, was appointed and reappointed by Britain’s increasingly far-right Conservative Party during its fourteen years in power.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In that regard, Petitti’s entrenched negotiating position — refusing to approve 16 without Sankey offering a commitment to 24 down the road — could end up undermining the Big Ten.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 23 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
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
Ironically, an Administration that claims to champion free markets is actively undermining the free flow of information that makes markets work.
—Andrew Behar, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Many in leadership continue to not acknowledge or understand that behaviors such as exclusion, undermining, or chronic incivility can all be examples of bullying and can come at extreme costs.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
If that happens, the phone platform will still be needed, undermining the cost-savings in the proposal touted by supervisors.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026
Robbie Gibb, the board member accused of undermining the broadcaster from within, was appointed and reappointed by Britain’s increasingly far-right Conservative Party during its fourteen years in power.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In that regard, Petitti’s entrenched negotiating position — refusing to approve 16 without Sankey offering a commitment to 24 down the road — could end up undermining the Big Ten.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
-
Democratic institutions remain strong enough to prevent outright collapse but are weakened enough to permit steady erosion.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
-
As Mendonça’s international reputation grew, the hard-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office in Brazil, and Mendonça used his platform to denounce the country’s democratic erosion.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said the images were aimed less at reassuring the public than at boosting morale among the regime’s weakening security forces.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Skies will be sunny, with winds weakening by the afternoon.—
Anthony Franze,
San Antonio Express-News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sudden cold could be damaging to lawns due to the warm weather; most should regrow.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But toward the end of the afternoon session, the Frenchman spun on the damp track and hit the wall, damaging his car.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Projects that bypass rigorous upfront analysis often end up relying on emergency mitigation, enforcement-heavy solutions, and costly redesigns, eroding public trust along the way.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
When the stock finally gets momentum, Cramer said the sellers appear, eroding the gains.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Low copper causes weakness by lowering energy production and impairing iron and healthy blood cells throughout the body.—
Kirstyn Hill,
Health,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Plus, the soothing licorice root extract helps calm everything down, making this an ideal pick for anyone who wants to combat discoloration without compromising hydration.—
Deanna Pai,
Allure,
29 Jan. 2026
-
These ultra-warm and puffy ankle boots are extra flexible and can be easily folded or squished down in a suitcase without compromising their structural integrity.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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