UNDERMINE Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

undermine

verb

Definition of undermine next

as in to weaken

to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way She tried to undermine my authority by complaining about me to my boss. The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples 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 The tipping point To sum up, Trump’s treatment of Ukraine will be a signal to the world of whether the president has conceded global leadership to Russia and China, whose goal is to undermine the United States. —

Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2025 Power in the international system is shifting from West to East and North to South, undermining a global order that rested on the West’s material and ideological primacy. —

Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025 Proponents of the ban point to concerns about whether the Chinese Communist Party could use the platform to undermine U.S. national security, but opponents have raised First Amendment arguments about why the ban would be unconstitutional. —

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025 But analysts and migrant advocates tie it to the economic crisis, which has generated widespread bitterness and undermined President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s rule. —

Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for undermine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermine

Verb

Elon Musk, one of Trump’s confidants, has already met with Iran’s UN ambassador; now that Israel has weakened Tehran and pummeled its proxies in the Middle East, a diplomatic breakthrough may be achievable.

Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
The widening yield differentials between Chinese and U.S. sovereign bonds could risk encouraging capital outflows and put further pressure on the yuan that has been weakening against the greenback.

Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025