Word
undermining
Phoneticsun·der·min·ing
US/ˈəndɝˌmaɪnɪŋ/
UK/ˌʌndəmˈaɪnɪŋ/
Definition
adj. describing something that slowly makes someone or something else weaker or less confident.
adj. characterised by the gradual weakening or subversion of the effectiveness, power, or ability of someone or something. Often used as a participial adjective to describe actions or behaviors that damage authority or stability.
Examples
“His constant criticism had an undermining effect on the team.”
“The manager's habit of ignoring his staff's suggestions was undermining the morale of the entire office.”
“The spread of misinformation proved to be an undermining force in the democratic process, eroding public trust in established institutions and factual reporting.”
Examples
simple
“His constant criticism had an undermining effect on the team.”
contextual
“The manager's habit of ignoring his staff's suggestions was undermining the morale of the entire office.”
complex
“The spread of misinformation proved to be an undermining force in the democratic process, eroding public trust in established institutions and factual reporting.”
Usage
Often appears before nouns like 'effect', 'influence', or 'tactic' to describe a process of gradual damage.
Real-World Examples
Common in health and culture writing
“But Hackett warned: “A series of policy decisions by successive governments, including the unpopular international student levy, risks undermining this success story.” “In response, an attender asked, “What’s the risk of saying this?” She meant that talking about refusal of social care risks undermining the political case for its improvement.” “It urged the public and the media to "refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process."
By then, arguably, the damage had already been done.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/undermining