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.
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;
Verb
hollow out as if making a cave or opening; "The river was caving the banks"
Verb
destroy property or hinder normal operations; "The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war"
v. t.
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.
v. t.
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.
Undermine
A vast rock undermined from one end to the other, and a highway running through it.2.
He should be warned who are like to undermine him.
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;
Usage Examples
No matter what a woman's appearance may be, it will be used to undermine what she is saying and taken to individualize - as her personal problem - observations she makes about the beauty myth in society.
We in the press, by our power, can actually undermine leadership.
I see people who talk about America, and then undermine it by not paying attention to its soul, to its poetry. I see polarization, reductionism and superficiality.
I have no right, by anything I do or say, to demean a human being in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him it is what he thinks of himself. To undermine a man's self-respect is a sin.
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Other Usage ExamplesThe financial crisis should not become an excuse to raise taxes, which would only undermine the economic growth required to regain our strength.
The Social Security trust fund is in pretty good shape today and we should not embark upon risky, dangerous schemes which will, in fact, undermine Social Security, such as privatization.
When political and business leaders tell the public - any public - 'We don't trust you to make the right decision' - they prejudice that electorate against the very proposals they want it to accept and undermine public confidence in themselves.
Christmas is taken very seriously in this household. I believe in Father Christmas, and there's no way I'd do anything to undermine that belief.
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