
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'undermine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 2022 Republicans said the new measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession.Īlan Fram And Lisa Mascaro, Chron, 7 Aug. An example of to undermine is digging a space under a walkway for irrigation. to make something or someone become gradually less effective, confident, or successful Business confidence was. 2022 Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession.Īlan Fram,, 7 Aug. Undermine is defined as to dig beneath, weaken or injure. to weaken gradually or insidiously: their insults undermined her confidence. The underminer doesn't use blatantly hostile language or actions to take you down. (Physical Geography) (of the sea, wind, etc) to wear away the bottom or base of (land, cliffs, etc) 2. 2022 Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession.ĬBS News, 7 Aug. Unlike overt bullying or harassment, undermining can be harder to pinpoint and detect. 2022 Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession. 1 (of the sea, wind, etc.) to wear away the bottom or base of (land, cliffs, etc. To weaken, injure, or impair, often by degrees or imperceptibly sap: Late hours can undermine one's health. 2022 Some fishers claim that strict state and federal regulations designed to conserve stocks undermine their livelihoods even more.Įmily Cataneo, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Aug. To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation: Water has undermined the stone foundations. 2022 Our research on prosecuting world leaders finds that both sweeping immunity and overzealous prosecutions can undermine democracy. undermine - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. 2022 Some experts argue that further isolating Afghanistan will only undermine the moderate faction.

To keep something under (one's) hat "secret" is from 1885 to have something under (one's) nose "in plain sight" is from 1540s to speak under (one's) breath "in a low voice" is attested from 1832.Recent Examples on the Web Oil slumped to its lowest level since January on Wednesday amid fears that slowing global growth will undermine demand.

Under the table is from 1913 in the sense of "very drunk," 1940s in sense of "illegal" ( under-board "dishonest" is from c. To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation: Water has undermined the stone foundations. Under the weather "indisposed" is from 1810. (though this may be an entirely separate root see understand).

Also used in Old English as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. As an adjective, "lower in position lower in rank or degree" from 13c. With reference to standards, "less than in age, price, value," etc., late 14c. Failing in his attempt to undermine the loyalty of the two Dyaks von Horn had chosen the only other way to keep the knowledge of the whereabouts. un·der·mined, un·der·min·ing, un·der·mines 1. Notion of "inferior in rank, position, etc." was present in Old English. undermines synonyms, undermines pronunciation, undermines translation, English dictionary definition of undermines.

2 : to weaken secretly or little by little Their criticisms undermine my confidence. Productive as a prefix in Old English, as in German and Scandinavian (often forming words modeled on Latin ones in sub-). Kids Definition of undermine 1 : to dig out or wear away the supporting earth beneath Erosion undermined the wall. Old English under (prep.) "beneath, among, before, in the presence of, in subjection to, under the rule of, by means of," also, as an adverb, "beneath, below, underneath," expressing position with reference to that which is above, from Proto-Germanic *under- (source also of Old Frisian under, Dutch onder, Old High German untar, German unter, Old Norse undir, Gothic undar), from PIE *ndher- "under" (source also of Sanskrit adhah "below " Avestan athara- "lower " Latin infernus "lower," infra "below").
