as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction
the view that the constant mudslinging and negative campaigning contributes to the undermining of the public's faith in politics and government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in weakening
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 undermining
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
What is the purpose of this layering and undermining of the story’s authenticity?
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The undermining of an independent judiciary.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Flores and Cantello also said many of their colleagues were placed on administrative leave after signing a letter of dissent criticizing EPA leadership’s undermining of public trust and disregard for scientific consensus.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Adding Medicaid work-reporting requirements to this already fragile balancing act risks undermining the system that makes aging in the community possible.
—Emily D. Tisdale, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
Yet several of these states also file automatic referrals with police, undermining what experts view as years of progress.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Democratic lawmakers have sharply criticized both the raid and Gabbard’s involvement, arguing the actions risk undermining public confidence in elections ahead of the midterm cycle.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
The shorter trips to Europe don’t require as many of the largest tankers—undermining demand for the deepwater terminals.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
When an undocumented immigrant commits a crime in a sanctuary jurisdiction and the politicians and law enforcement in that city fail to cooperate with ICE, the city is undermining federal immigration enforcement and making Americans less safe.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
The Russian general was one of several GRU officials sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for wide-ranging malicious cyber activity directed at undermining US democratic processes.
—Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
By spreading distrust in the government, ICE is undermining public safety.
—Aubrey Jackson Soller, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
Long commute times are certainly frustrating, but continual undermining of mass transit projects isn’t going to solve the problem.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
What is the purpose of this layering and undermining of the story’s authenticity?
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The undermining of an independent judiciary.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Flores and Cantello also said many of their colleagues were placed on administrative leave after signing a letter of dissent criticizing EPA leadership’s undermining of public trust and disregard for scientific consensus.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Broad political characterizations oversimplify complex legal processes and risk undermining confidence in an independent judiciary.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Adding Medicaid work-reporting requirements to this already fragile balancing act risks undermining the system that makes aging in the community possible.
—Emily D. Tisdale, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
Yet several of these states also file automatic referrals with police, undermining what experts view as years of progress.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Democratic lawmakers have sharply criticized both the raid and Gabbard’s involvement, arguing the actions risk undermining public confidence in elections ahead of the midterm cycle.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
The shorter trips to Europe don’t require as many of the largest tankers—undermining demand for the deepwater terminals.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
When an undocumented immigrant commits a crime in a sanctuary jurisdiction and the politicians and law enforcement in that city fail to cooperate with ICE, the city is undermining federal immigration enforcement and making Americans less safe.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
The Russian general was one of several GRU officials sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for wide-ranging malicious cyber activity directed at undermining US democratic processes.
—Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
By spreading distrust in the government, ICE is undermining public safety.
—Aubrey Jackson Soller, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
-
The erosion of physician fees by inflation has also been offset by an increase in volume.—
Chris Pope,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Any future erosion would have to come overwhelmingly from one of two places.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the big problem is why the dollar is weakening.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Nevertheless, proponents of the theory have suggested without evidence that the substation’s electromagnetic fields could be damaging players’ soft tissues and weakening their tendons.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The best way to avoid damaging your curls is to create an anchor point for your veil to adhere to.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Lajčák stepped down to avoid damaging his ally, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, but denies any material wrongdoing.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This chronic underfunding is eroding the dignity of aging and straining the health care system.—
Andrew Hevesi,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Protections for workers are eroding Nepal and Bangladesh are among several countries in Asia that rely heavily on remittances from migrant workers who are vulnerable to abuses despite decades of work aimed at protecting them.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Studies will examine both the therapeutic and impairing effects of cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA and alcohol.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Even a single variant can disrupt protein function by impairing subunit assembly and destabilizing the overall structure.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Other states have done so without compromising food safety.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The surgeon performing this type of rhinoplasty must carefully reshape the nasal structure without compromising strength or function.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
