undermine

[US]/ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/
[UK]/ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

vt. tunnel under something erode the foundation of something through covert actions gradually weaken.

Example Sentences

Rivers undermine their banks.

A mole can undermine the strongest rampart.

this could undermine years of hard work.

Nothing can undermine their fast friendship.

The soldiers undermined the wall.

Water has undermined the stone foundations.

Late hours can undermine one's health.

Badgers had undermined the foundations of the church.

Illness undermined his strength.

Insults undermined her confidence.

She tried to undermine our friendship.

These incidents could seriously undermine support for the police.

a crazy building, sapped and undermined by the rats.

Many severe colds undermined the old man's health.

The President's enemies are spreading rumours to undermine his authority.

Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position.

his uncle's austerities had undermined his health.

the novel undermines its own stated project of telling a story.

Real-world Examples

Pursuing one's own absolute security can only undermine global strategic stability.

Source: Wang Yi's speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

Over the past two decades, however, that notion has been undermined.

Source: The Economist - Technology

And it's going to completely undermine education as we know it.

Source: TED Talks (Video Version) Bilingual Selection

Without that, without that trust I think the agency is completely undermined.

Source: VOA Standard English_Americas

Russia's actions, it said, undermined the basic security of Europe.

Source: BBC Listening September 2014 Compilation

But a bombing like this in Kabul can really undermine all of that.

Source: NPR News April 2018 Collection

Well, some economists worry that higher wages could undermine the fight against inflation.

Source: Financial Times

Such actions seriously undermined regional peace and stability.

Source: BBC Listening August 2016 Collection

Mr.Kobe said this was a fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution.

Source: BBC Listening Collection July 2016

Depriving individuals of this choice undermines their autonomy and dignity.

Source: VOA Daily Standard March 2018 Collection

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