as in weakens
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 undermines
Context that undermines sensational allegations is minimized.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
Despite that, the prequel undermines Elle’s Legally Blonde character arc and, ultimately, fails to break new ground.
—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Snow said Live Local undermines the city’s Miami 21 zoning code, approved in 2009 after five years of revisions and intensive public review.
—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
Max Cady should be an unsettling interruption, a man who undermines our ideas of right and wrong through his nonchalance about his own wickedness; here, the most unsettling thing about him are those teal contact lenses.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
This undermines financial stability, erodes reserves intended for true emergencies, and increases the likelihood of necessary cuts or emergency measures in the future.
—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2026
That pressure erodes well-being, undermines family life, and disproportionately impacts working parents and caregivers.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Sorsby might argue that the NFL, in denying him a supplemental draft, undermines his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar state law.
—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2026
Anything less undermines that purpose.
—
Nicole Jorwic,
STAT,
23 June 2026
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
Despite that, the prequel undermines Elle’s Legally Blonde character arc and, ultimately, fails to break new ground.
—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Snow said Live Local undermines the city’s Miami 21 zoning code, approved in 2009 after five years of revisions and intensive public review.
—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
Max Cady should be an unsettling interruption, a man who undermines our ideas of right and wrong through his nonchalance about his own wickedness; here, the most unsettling thing about him are those teal contact lenses.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
This undermines financial stability, erodes reserves intended for true emergencies, and increases the likelihood of necessary cuts or emergency measures in the future.
—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2026
That pressure erodes well-being, undermines family life, and disproportionately impacts working parents and caregivers.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Sorsby might argue that the NFL, in denying him a supplemental draft, undermines his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar state law.
—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2026
Anything less undermines that purpose.
—
Nicole Jorwic,
STAT,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermines
Verb
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When the dollar weakens, commodity prices expressed in dollars tend to rise to maintain purchasing power parity for buyers operating in other currencies.
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But the corresponding upheaval is still catastrophic for any surrounding planets, which either get swallowed up by the expanding star, or drift into wider orbits as the star’s gravity weakens—some are flung out from the system entirely.
Verb
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The best exits often happen while the story is still strong, before defensive thinking erodes momentum, talent and valuation.
-
This undermines financial stability, erodes reserves intended for true emergencies, and increases the likelihood of necessary cuts or emergency measures in the future.
Verb
-
The chronic disease, which impairs the body’s ability to properly regulate blood sugar, contributed to 94,445 deaths that year.
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But the complaint argues CMS has not explained why community healthcare providers are equipped to evaluate whether a patient’s condition significantly impairs their ability to comply with work requirements.
Verb
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Most notably, those who switched faced a 24% higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
-
Your Eyes High blood pressure also damages the sensitive back lining of the eye called the retina.
Cite this Entry
“Undermines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermines. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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