undermine

Synonym Chooser

How is the word undermine distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of undermine are cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think

When is cripple a more appropriate choice than undermine?

The meanings of cripple and undermine largely overlap; however, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.

crippled by arthritis

When can debilitate be used instead of undermine?

While the synonyms debilitate and undermine are close in meaning, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When could disable be used to replace undermine?

The words disable and undermine can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

When is it sensible to use enfeeble instead of undermine?

Although the words enfeeble and undermine have much in common, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

When might weaken be a better fit than undermine?

The words weaken and undermine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of undermine Guilt by association While some social media companies might seek to capture the fediverse, others might seek to undermine its reputation by highlighting some of its unsavory uses. Aram Sinnreich, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025 Hospital groups in 2020 opposed to the changes unsuccessfully challenged the previous Trump administration in court, arguing that the requirements would undermine their negotiations with insurers and violate their First Amendment rights. Marquise Francis, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2025 Trump has aligned with Russian narratives about the conflict, framing Ukraine as the key impediment to peace, falsely blaming Kyiv for starting the war, undermining Zelenskyy's legitimacy as president and seeking to recoup years of American aid via a controversial minerals sharing deal. David Brennan, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2025 My guess is that a great interior COVID novel will either reject or undermine the self-controlling impulse that many pandemic novels thus far have suffered from, with its characters who are actively trying to manage their emotions and behavior. Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undermine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermine
Verb
  • Signing Verdugo now would give the Yankees one less option to fill the Stanton void and weaken their lineup even more.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
  • In an all-staff e-mail, Dudek wrote: Criticism, contempt, stonewalling, and defensiveness are the four forces that can end any relationship and weaken any institution. . .
    E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
    Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2025
  • But Casey pointed out that drivers stopped for more serious violations, such as driving while impaired, will receive citations or be arrested.
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Video calls fall slightly below in-person meetings because small differences can significantly erode engagement.
    Carmine Gallo, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • For example, if the individual who passed did not have life insurance, long-term care or supplemental disability insurance, there may also be debts left behind that can erode the inheritance.
    Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Displays of authenticity, executed improperly, can damage reputations and even derail careers.
    Harrison Monarth, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Moon dust plagued astronauts and spacecraft during NASA’s Apollo program in the mid-20th century, as the fine and abrasive material damaged camera lenses and visors, according to NASA.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In today’s environment, where DEI programs are under attack and frequently misunderstood, leaders who invest in building and supporting diverse teams unlock a broader range of perspectives, fueling better decision-making without compromising on standards or quality.
    Rebekah Bastian, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Does that critical framework become compromised with the infusion of ethnic studies as the primary content?
    Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Undermine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermine. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

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