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- Dictionaryun·der·mine/ˌəndərˈmīn/
verb
- 1. erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation): "the flow of water had undermined pillars supporting the roof" Similar Opposite
- 2. lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously: "this could undermine years of hard work" Similar Opposite
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Learn the meaning of undermine, a verb that means to subvert, weaken, or ruin something secretly or gradually. See synonyms, examples, word history, and related entries for undermine.
to make someone less confident, less powerful, or less likely to succeed, or to make something weaker, often gradually: The president has accused two cabinet members of working secretly to undermine his position /him. Criticism just undermines their confidence. Fewer examples.
To undermine literally means to dig a hole underneath something, making it likely to collapse. But we more often use the word to describe sabotage or the act of weakening someone else's efforts. Originally spelled with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘i’, undermine has Germanic roots and means "to weaken, hinder, or impair."
Undermine means to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect. Learn more about the origin, usage and related words of undermine with Dictionary.com.
Undermine means to weaken, damage, or subvert something or someone by indirect or gradual means. Learn the pronunciation, grammar, and usage of undermine with Collins English Dictionary, and see synonyms and examples of the verb.
Undermine means to weaken, damage, or destroy something by digging or tunneling beneath it, or by gradual or insidious actions. See the origin, synonyms, and usage of the verb undermine in different contexts and languages.
Undermine is a verb that means to make something weaker or less effective, especially by attacking it from below. Learn how to use it in different contexts, such as confidence, authority, or morale, with examples and synonyms.
1. If you undermine something such as a feeling or a system, you make it less strong or less secure than it was before, often by a gradual process or by repeated efforts. [...] 2. If you undermine someone or undermine their position or authority, you make their authority or position less secure, often by indirect methods. [...] 3.
Learn the meaning of the verb undermine, which means to wear away and weaken the supports of something, or to injure, weaken, or impair by subtle means. See synonyms, antonyms, and examples of undermine in sentences.
Undermine means to make someone less confident or make something weaker. See examples, synonyms and translations of undermine in different languages.
