Word
undermine
Phoneticsun·der·mine, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈəndɝˌmaɪn/
UK/ˌʌndəmˈaɪn/
Definitions
01to weaken figuratively
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone's authority, confidence, or a plan weaker, often by acting secretly.
v. to lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of someone or something, especially gradually or insidiously.
日本語:蝕む※
“Constant criticism from his boss started to undermine his confidence at work.”
“The leaked documents were clearly intended to undermine the public's trust in the government's handling of the economic crisis.”
Usage
Often used with abstract nouns like 'authority', 'confidence', 'credibility', or 'efforts'.
Teaching tip
This is the most common modern use. Remind students that it implies a slow, hidden process rather than a sudden attack.
Antonyms
02to erode a foundation
C1 · Advanced Technical
v. to wear away the earth or support from under something, like a building or a road.
v. to erode the base or foundation of a structure, typically through the action of water or soil movement.
“The heavy rain began to undermine the road, causing a small landslide.”
“Years of coastal erosion had undermined the cliffside cottage, leaving the front porch hanging precariously over the Atlantic.”
Usage
Transitive; the subject is usually a natural force like water, waves, or erosion.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03philosophy
C2 · Proficiency Science Academic · Technical
v. to say that an object is only the sum of its smaller parts.
v. to regard an object as merely the sum of the parts that compose it, specifically within object-oriented ontology.
“Some philosophers undermine the idea of a 'table' by saying it is just a collection of atoms.”
“In object-oriented ontology, to undermine an object is to reduce its reality to the sub-individual components that constitute its physical form.”
Usage
Used specifically in ontological debates regarding the nature of objects.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized term in philosophy; general learners should focus on the 'weaken' sense instead.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “undermine” in context.
Verb
01. seriously undermine the credibility
“The discovery of the forged documents seriously undermined the credibility of the witness.”
adv + verb + noun
02. undermine the authority of the leader
“Constant public criticism from his own cabinet began to undermine the authority of the leader.”
verb + noun + of + noun
03. undermine the confidence in the economy
“Rising inflation rates have started to undermine the confidence in the economy among small business owners.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
04. undermine the efforts to reach a deal
“Leaked information to the press could undermine the efforts to reach a deal before the deadline.”
verb + noun + infinitive
Adverb
05. deliberately undermine the progress
“The opposition party was accused of trying to deliberately undermine the progress of the peace talks.”
adv + verb + noun
06. fundamentally undermine the principles
“Critics argue that the new surveillance laws fundamentally undermine the principles of personal privacy.”
adv + verb + noun
07. subtly undermine the position
“He tried to subtly undermine the position of his rival by highlighting minor errors in the report.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) referred the decision to the High Court - a move the agency can do if it believes a prisoner's release would undermine public confidence in the parole system.” “Thursday's vote was seen as a test of Zambia's reputation as one of Africa's most stable democracies, amid concerns that political freedoms are being undermined.” “University leaders are warning of financial turmoil in British higher education after new figures suggested a collapse in international student numbers would deprive the sector of vital income and undermine its future.” “Western officials see the campaign as connected to Russia’s broader efforts to undermine European countries that support Ukraine.” Etymology
From under- + mine.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/undermine
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0