as in weakened
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.
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Recent Examples of undermined
Their abuses have taken lives, traumatized communities, and undermined the work and reputations of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who continue to be guided by their oaths.
—
Chris Mattei, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
However, investigations have found that VA undermined the MISSION Act’s access standards for community care eligibility since the law’s passage.
—Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
The tower’s fate has been linked to broader questions about Dallas’ urban core, which has been undermined by the impending departure of AT&T, and persistent questions about quality of life in the area.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
The public tussle tarnished the Burbank company’s clean image and undermined its goal of entertaining the masses, no matter their political stripes.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Trump’s decision to impose several rounds of tariffs on major trade partners has undermined confidence in economic growth in the US and the value of its currency.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Three injuries in the same area were unlucky, but also undermined Villa’s hand in wanting to sign a replacement.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Warsh, a former Fed governor with a Wall Street background, has been critical of the central bank's handling of inflation in the past and told CNBC in July that its hesitancy to cut interest rates undermined its credibility.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Instead of offering condolences or urging patience while an impartial probe runs its course, their push to preemptively exonerate the agents undermined an otherwise rigorous process meant to judge the use of lethal force according to the standards law enforcement is expected to uphold.
—Diane Goldstein, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Chris Mattei, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
However, investigations have found that VA undermined the MISSION Act’s access standards for community care eligibility since the law’s passage.
—Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
The tower’s fate has been linked to broader questions about Dallas’ urban core, which has been undermined by the impending departure of AT&T, and persistent questions about quality of life in the area.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
The public tussle tarnished the Burbank company’s clean image and undermined its goal of entertaining the masses, no matter their political stripes.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Trump’s decision to impose several rounds of tariffs on major trade partners has undermined confidence in economic growth in the US and the value of its currency.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Three injuries in the same area were unlucky, but also undermined Villa’s hand in wanting to sign a replacement.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Warsh, a former Fed governor with a Wall Street background, has been critical of the central bank's handling of inflation in the past and told CNBC in July that its hesitancy to cut interest rates undermined its credibility.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Instead of offering condolences or urging patience while an impartial probe runs its course, their push to preemptively exonerate the agents undermined an otherwise rigorous process meant to judge the use of lethal force according to the standards law enforcement is expected to uphold.
—Diane Goldstein, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermined
Verb
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Bass, who was politically weakened by her performance during the fire and its aftermath, was already facing more than two dozen challengers looking to oust her in the June 2 primary — the vast majority little known to the public and not expected to pose any threat.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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New York — US stocks dropped Thursday, continuing a recent patch of volatility, as Wall Street grappled with persistent nerves about artificial intelligence and economic data showed the labor market weakened over the past two months.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For years, the LDP has been weighed down by election losses, stubborn inflation and political scandals, which have eroded public trust even as its new leader’s popularity surges.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Critics, however, countered that Kamau's political identity does not exempt him from basic legal standards and that the case was one of several controversies that eroded confidence in his administration.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Built for extreme cold Corvus One for Cold Chain uses industrial-grade barcode scanners with precise control over focus and exposure, enabling reliable label capture even when barcodes are frosted, damaged, or low contrast.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Doormats should be cleaned if visibly dirty, tracking grime inside, or functionality is impaired.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Participants will not be allowed to drive home impaired.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Judges have a duty to ensure that a person’s liberty, due process rights, and privacy are not compromised by administrative or technical errors.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
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No court, no state official, no independent review found evidence that our vote count was compromised or that the outcome was in doubt.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Harald’s physical health has deteriorated in recent years, requiring Haakon to act as regent on occasion.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The relationship deteriorated further after Horvath and her colleagues voted to shift hundreds of millions of dollars out of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a city-county partnership, and into a new county agency on homelessness.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermined. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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