227 Another Word for Undermine? – Undermine Synonyms & Antonyms

Want to say undermine differently? Here are other words for undermine and its similar synonyms and opposite words to say in unique way.


Meaning of undermine

The primary meaning of the word "undermine" is to weaken or damage something, often in a secret or hidden way.

Etymology of undermine

The word "undermine" comes from the Old English words "under" meaning "below" and "minan" meaning "to dig", and originally referred to the act of digging under something, such as a building or a wall, in order to weaken or destroy it
Over time, the word took on a more figurative meaning, referring to the act of secretly or subtly weakening or damaging something, such as a person's confidence or a system's effectiveness

Synonyms

subvert sabotage weaken compromise damage harm impede hinder obstruct disrupt destabilize erode corrode undermine ravage devastate destroy demolish dismantle disintegrate dismember dismantle impair injure mar spoil tarnish vitiate depreciate devalue downgrade reduce decrease lessen enfeeble enervate debilitate cripple incapacitate paralyze blunt dull mute muffle stifle smother throttle strangle suffocate extinguish snuff.

Definitions

  • To weaken or damage something, often in a secret or hidden way, by reducing its strength, effectiveness, or confidence
  • To remove the foundation or base of something, often in order to cause it to collapse or fail
  • To secretly or subtly work against someone or something, often in order to gain an advantage or achieve a goal

Usage Examples

  • The company's financial troubles were undermined by a series of poor investment decisions
  • The politician's campaign was undermined by a scandal involving one of his closest advisors
  • The teacher's authority was undermined by the student's constant questioning and disruption

Antonyms

strengthen bolster support enhance improve boost augment increase reinforce fortify solidify stabilize validate verify confirm substantiate authenticate vindicate justify rationalize legitimize sanction approve endorse promote advance further facilitate enable empower energize invigorate revitalize.

Related Adjectives

subversive sabotaging weak compromised damaged harmed impeded hindered obstructed disrupted destabilized eroded corroded ravaged devastated destroyed demolished dismantled disintegrated dismembered impaired injured marred spoiled tarnished vitiated depreciated devalued reduced decreased lessened enfeebled enervated debilitated crippled incapacitated paralyzed blunted dulled muted muffled stifled smothered throttled strangled suffocated extinguished.

Related Nouns

subversion sabotage weakness compromise damage harm impediment hindrance obstruction disruption destabilization erosion corrosion ravage devastation destruction demolition dismantling disintegration dismemberment impairment injury mar spoil tarnish vitiation depreciation devaluation reduction decrease lessening enfeeblement enervation debilitation crippling incapacitation paralysis blunting dulling muting muffling stifling smothering throttling strangling suffocation extinguishment snuffing.

Related Verbs

subvert sabotage weaken compromise damage harm impede hinder obstruct disrupt destabilize erode corrode ravage devastate destroy demolish dismantle disintegrate dismember impair injure mar spoil tarnish vitiate depreciate devalue reduce decrease lessen enfeeble enervate debilitate cripple incapacitate paralyze blunt dull mute muffle stifle smother throttle strangle suffocate extinguish snuff.
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