Undermine
verb
To weaken or cause to fail, gradually or secretly.
His consistent criticism could undermine her confidence.
Often appears as...
- undermine confidence
- undermine stability
verb
To dig or make a tunnel under something, especially to cause it to collapse.
The river has undermined the bridge foundations over the years.
Often appears as...
- undermine foundations
- undermine infrastructure
verb
To weaken or cause to fail, gradually or secretly.
His consistent criticism could undermine her confidence.
Often appears as...
- undermine confidence
- undermine stability
verb
To dig or make a tunnel under something, especially to cause it to collapse.
The river has undermined the bridge foundations over the years.
Often appears as...
- undermine foundations
- undermine infrastructure
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Weakening
Undermine suggests a gradual process, not an immediate effect.
His jokes about her work began to slowly undermine her motivation.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Motives
Actions that undermine often appear harmless at first.
Smiling, he shared the team's plans with the rival, aiming to undermine their success.
Pro Tip 3/3Connotation of Betrayal
Undermine can imply betrayal, as trust is broken.
By spreading rumors, she began to undermine his reputation among his friends.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Weakening
Undermine suggests a gradual process, not an immediate effect.
His jokes about her work began to slowly undermine her motivation.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Motives
Actions that undermine often appear harmless at first.
Smiling, he shared the team's plans with the rival, aiming to undermine their success.
Pro Tip 3/3Connotation of Betrayal
Undermine can imply betrayal, as trust is broken.
By spreading rumors, she began to undermine his reputation among his friends.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Weakening
Undermine suggests a gradual process, not an immediate effect.
His jokes about her work began to slowly undermine her motivation.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Motives
Actions that undermine often appear harmless at first.
Smiling, he shared the team's plans with the rival, aiming to undermine their success.
Pro Tip 3/3Connotation of Betrayal
Undermine can imply betrayal, as trust is broken.
By spreading rumors, she began to undermine his reputation among his friends.
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Video examples
Kenya’s Wildlife...
paul says that tourism is only part of the solution and in some places it's just not feasible i think that this idea that tourism will save wildlife is a is a message that has undermined conservation and protection of wildlife because that means that if you're in an area where you can't do tourism because
Video examples
Why is biodiversity so...
In some environments, taking away just one important component can undermine the entire system. Take coral reefs, for instance. Many organisms in a reef are dependent on the coral. It provides key microhabitats, shelter and breeding grounds
Video examples
Do we see reality as it...
at the thought that, if evolution does not favor reality, I mean, doesn't that to some extent undermine all our endeavors here, all our ability to think that we can think the truth, possibly even including your own theory, if you go there?
Video examples
How we take back the...
and any other company out there is a part of our society. It's a part of our interconnected world. There are ties of fraternity that bond us together, and if we destroy these bonds by undermining the standards, the security,
Video examples
Why do our bodies age? -...
Intercellular communication also slows, ultimately undermining the body's functional ability. There's a lot we don't yet understand about aging. Ultimately, does longer life as we know it come down to diet, exercise,
Video examples
Cute Baby Wild Boars PIPE...
this enclosed area ala deal is huge but if it's classed as a zoo it would then be illegal to put a predator and its prey in the same enclosed space and this would completely undermine Paul's grand plan
Video examples
How to stay calm under...
contestants in spelling bees, and even world-famous musicians. Most people intuitively blame it on their nerves, but why does being nervous undermine expert performance? There are two sets of theories,
Video examples
What happens when you...
This doesn't just undermine recovery. It's also dangerous. Our brains aren't invincible. They still need us to shield them from harm and help them undo damage once it's been done.
Video examples
This country isn't just...
Economic growth is important, but that economic growth must not come from undermining our unique culture or our pristine environment. Today, our culture is flourishing.
Video examples
What would it be like if...
for reassurance worldviews that tend to undermine it or pushed aside ignored and sometimes even attack a candidate for that would be Darwin's theory of
Video examples
Kenya’s Wildlife...
paul says that tourism is only part of the solution and in some places it's just not feasible i think that this idea that tourism will save wildlife is a is a message that has undermined conservation and protection of wildlife because that means that if you're in an area where you can't do tourism because
Video examples
Why is biodiversity so...
In some environments, taking away just one important component can undermine the entire system. Take coral reefs, for instance. Many organisms in a reef are dependent on the coral. It provides key microhabitats, shelter and breeding grounds
Video examples
Do we see reality as it...
at the thought that, if evolution does not favor reality, I mean, doesn't that to some extent undermine all our endeavors here, all our ability to think that we can think the truth, possibly even including your own theory, if you go there?
Video examples
How we take back the...
and any other company out there is a part of our society. It's a part of our interconnected world. There are ties of fraternity that bond us together, and if we destroy these bonds by undermining the standards, the security,
Video examples
Why do our bodies age? -...
Intercellular communication also slows, ultimately undermining the body's functional ability. There's a lot we don't yet understand about aging. Ultimately, does longer life as we know it come down to diet, exercise,
Video examples
Cute Baby Wild Boars PIPE...
this enclosed area ala deal is huge but if it's classed as a zoo it would then be illegal to put a predator and its prey in the same enclosed space and this would completely undermine Paul's grand plan
Video examples
How to stay calm under...
contestants in spelling bees, and even world-famous musicians. Most people intuitively blame it on their nerves, but why does being nervous undermine expert performance? There are two sets of theories,
Video examples
What happens when you...
This doesn't just undermine recovery. It's also dangerous. Our brains aren't invincible. They still need us to shield them from harm and help them undo damage once it's been done.
Video examples
This country isn't just...
Economic growth is important, but that economic growth must not come from undermining our unique culture or our pristine environment. Today, our culture is flourishing.
Video examples
What would it be like if...
for reassurance worldviews that tend to undermine it or pushed aside ignored and sometimes even attack a candidate for that would be Darwin's theory of
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Pep Guardiola
Spanish Coach
People always think the coach is the strongest person at a club, the boss, but in truth, he's the weakest link. We're there, vulnerable, undermined by those who don't play, by the media, by the fans. They all have the same objective: to undermine the manager.
Quote examples
Guy Gavriel Kay
Canadian Author
Significant consequences can begin very inconsequentially. That's one thing that fascinates me. The other thing that fascinates me is how accident can undermine something that's unfolding, something that might have played out differently otherwise.
Quote examples
Patricia Riggen
Mexican Director
The idea that women compete or don't like each other or undermine each other or sabotage each other, that's a big miss. That is not true at all. At all. My women connect with each other instantly and help each other.
Quote examples
Owen Jones
British Journalist
Restoring our shared humanity isn't easy, not least because powerful interests - from media outlets to politicians - relentlessly seek to undermine it. But it is the only hope for a troubled world.
Quote examples
Sharon Salzberg
American Author
We think of ourselves as our titles or our jobs or our position in a family. We depend on being praised by others. But something happens when that praise is undermined.
Quote examples
Jerome Powell
American Public Servant
I support adjustments designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of regulation without sacrificing safety and soundness or undermining macroprudential goals.
Quote examples
Roger Altman
American Businessman
The long-standing wisdom that everyone wins in a single world market has been undermined. Global trade, capital flows, and immigration are declining.
Quote examples
George W. Bush
American President
The financial crisis should not become an excuse to raise taxes, which would only undermine the economic growth required to regain our strength.
Quote examples
Henry Mintzberg
Canadian Businessman
Technologies tend to undermine community and encourage individualism.
Quote examples
Toyah Willcox
English Musician
You should never undermine friendship and loyalty.
Quote examples
Pep Guardiola
Spanish Coach
People always think the coach is the strongest person at a club, the boss, but in truth, he's the weakest link. We're there, vulnerable, undermined by those who don't play, by the media, by the fans. They all have the same objective: to undermine the manager.
Quote examples
Guy Gavriel Kay
Canadian Author
Significant consequences can begin very inconsequentially. That's one thing that fascinates me. The other thing that fascinates me is how accident can undermine something that's unfolding, something that might have played out differently otherwise.
Quote examples
Patricia Riggen
Mexican Director
The idea that women compete or don't like each other or undermine each other or sabotage each other, that's a big miss. That is not true at all. At all. My women connect with each other instantly and help each other.
Quote examples
Owen Jones
British Journalist
Restoring our shared humanity isn't easy, not least because powerful interests - from media outlets to politicians - relentlessly seek to undermine it. But it is the only hope for a troubled world.
Quote examples
Sharon Salzberg
American Author
We think of ourselves as our titles or our jobs or our position in a family. We depend on being praised by others. But something happens when that praise is undermined.
Quote examples
Jerome Powell
American Public Servant
I support adjustments designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of regulation without sacrificing safety and soundness or undermining macroprudential goals.
Quote examples
Roger Altman
American Businessman
The long-standing wisdom that everyone wins in a single world market has been undermined. Global trade, capital flows, and immigration are declining.
Quote examples
George W. Bush
American President
The financial crisis should not become an excuse to raise taxes, which would only undermine the economic growth required to regain our strength.
Quote examples
Henry Mintzberg
Canadian Businessman
Technologies tend to undermine community and encourage individualism.
Quote examples
Toyah Willcox
English Musician
You should never undermine friendship and loyalty.
Example 1 of 10
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