Undermine Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Published on August 12, 2025
Undermine refers to weaken or damage something, especially gradually or insidiously. e.g., Constant criticism can undermine a person's confidence.
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Undermine Definitions
To weaken or impair gradually.
Lack of sleep can undermine your health over time.
To make something less effective, often covertly.
His actions were intended to undermine the authority of the management.
To subvert or weaken insidiously or surreptitiously.
Gossip can undermine the cohesion of a team.
To erode the base or foundation of something.
Water can undermine the foundation of a building, causing it to become unstable.
To attack or sabotage indirectly.
Competitors sought to undermine each other's market position through aggressive pricing strategies.
ADVERTISEMENT
To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation
Water has undermined the stone foundations.
To weaken, injure, or impair, often by degrees or imperceptibly; sap
Late hours can undermine one's health.
To dig a mine or tunnel beneath.
To dig underneath (something), to make a passage for destructive or military purposes; to sap.
(figuratively) To weaken or work against; to hinder, sabotage.
The war efforts were undermined by the constant bickering between the allies.
To erode the base or foundation of something, e.g. by the action of water.
To excavate the earth beneath, or the part of, especially for the purpose of causing to fall or be overthrown; to form a mine under; to sap; as, to undermine a wall.
A vast rock undermined from one end to the other, and a highway running through it.
Fig.: To remove the foundation or support of by clandestine means; to ruin in an underhand way; as, to undermine reputation; to undermine the constitution of the state.
He should be warned who are like to undermine him.
Destroy property or hinder normal operations;
The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war
Hollow out as if making a cave or opening;
The river was caving the banks
Undermine Snonyms
Sabotage
To deliberately destroy or obstruct something.
The operation was sabotaged by an insider.
Erode
To gradually reduce or destroy something.
Constant conflict can erode trust in a relationship.
Destabilize
To make unstable or less effective.
Economic crises can destabilize governments.
Subvert
To overturn or overthrow from the foundation.
Propaganda was used to subvert public opinion.
Impair
To weaken or damage something.
Drinking alcohol can impair judgment.
Undercut
To undermine or weaken someone's position or arguments.
Their argument was undercut by lack of evidence.
Diminish
To make or become less.
His influence in the company has diminished over the years.
Weaken
To make less strong or powerful.
Age can weaken physical abilities.
Discredit
To harm the reputation or respect for someone.
The scandal served to discredit the politician.
Hollow out
To remove the central or most important part of something.
Corruption has the potential to hollow out democratic institutions.
Undermine Idioms & Phrases
Undermine someone's authority
To weaken someone's power or influence.
Questioning decisions openly can undermine someone's authority.
Undermine one's efforts
To make someone's efforts less effective or successful.
Constant interruptions can undermine one's efforts to concentrate.
Undermine from within
To weaken or sabotage something from the inside.
The organization was undermined from within by disloyal members.
Undermine the foundation
To weaken the basis or core of something.
Failing to address core issues can undermine the foundation of a project.
Undermine trust/confidence
To erode the trust or confidence someone has in something or someone.
Secrets and lies can quickly undermine trust in a relationship.
Undermine Example Sentences
The continual budget cuts threaten to undermine the quality of education.
Rumors about the CEO's resignation began to undermine investor confidence.
Her constant negativity began to undermine my enthusiasm for the project.
Actions that undermine the team's morale can have detrimental effects on productivity.
Attempts to undermine the treaty have been met with strong opposition.
Environmental pollution can undermine the sustainability of the ecosystem.
Political infighting threatens to undermine the party's unity.
Cyber attacks can undermine the security of sensitive information.
The lawyer's argument was designed to undermine the credibility of the witness.
The report aimed to undermine the theory that was previously accepted as truth.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called undermine?
It's called undermine, stemming from the Middle English "underminen," which originally referred to the literal sense of digging or tunneling beneath a physical structure to make it collapse. The term evolved to mean weakening or damaging in a broader, often figurative sense.
How many syllables are in undermine?
There are three syllables in "undermine."
How is undermine used in a sentence?
e.g., Their lack of cooperation began to undermine the project's success.
What is the third form of undermine?
The third form is also "undermined."
How do we divide undermine into syllables?
Undermine is divided into syllables as follows: un-der-mine.
What is a stressed syllable in undermine?
The first syllable is stressed in "undermine."
What is another term for undermine?
Another term for undermine could be "sabotage" or "weaken."
Is undermine an abstract noun?
No, undermine is a verb, not a noun.
What is the first form of undermine?
The first (base) form is "undermine."
What is the singular form of undermine?
Undermine is a verb and does not have singular or plural forms in the traditional sense.
Is the word undermine imperative?
Undermine can be used in the imperative mood, as in giving a command or instruction.
Which determiner is used with undermine?
Determiners are not typically used directly with verbs like undermine.
Which vowel is used before undermine?
The question doesn't apply as undermine is a verb and usage of vowels before it depends on the structure of the sentence.
What is the verb form of undermine?
Undermine itself is the verb form.
What is the pronunciation of undermine?
Undermine is pronounced as /ˈʌn.dər.maɪn/.
What is the root word of undermine?
The root of undermine comes from "under," meaning "beneath" or "below," and "mine," referring to the act of excavating or digging.
Is undermine a noun or adjective?
Undermine is a verb.
Is undermine an adverb?
No, undermine is not an adverb.
What is the second form of undermine?
The second form is "undermined."
What part of speech is undermine?
Undermine is a verb.
What is the plural form of undermine?
As a verb, undermine does not have a plural form.
What is the opposite of undermine?
The opposite of undermine could be "support" or "strengthen."
Is the undermine term a metaphor?
Undermine can be used metaphorically to describe actions that weaken or damage something not physically, such as trust or confidence.
Which preposition is used with undermine?
Prepositions such as "by" or "with" can be used with undermine, e.g., "undermined by rumors," "undermined with false information."
Which article is used with undermine?
Articles are not used directly with the verb undermine; they are used with nouns.
Is undermine a negative or positive word?
Undermine generally has a negative connotation, as it involves weakening or damaging something.
Is undermine a vowel or consonant?
The word undermine starts with a vowel.
Is undermine a collective noun?
No, undermine is not a collective noun.
Which conjunction is used with undermine?
Conjunctions are used based on sentence structure and are not specific to the word undermine.
Is undermine a countable noun?
Undermine is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the word undermine Gerund?
The gerund form of undermine is "undermining."
Is the word “undermine” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In a sentence, "undermine" can have a direct object, e.g., "She undermined his authority."
Share Your Discovery
Previous Term
Originate Definition and Meaning
Next Term
Enter Definition and MeaningAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
