as in weakened
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 undermined
Union leaders are harassed and arrested, workplaces remain perilous, and bargaining is undermined by intimidation and retaliation.
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Tharo Khun, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Among them were her dissatisfaction with celebrity culture, her sense that her dignity was being undermined by the media — and, crucially, a gesture toward Cydney Bernard, whom Foster thanked by name and identified as her ex-partner and co-parent.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
The superstitious beliefs need to be undermined, to have their error made clear.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
What’s more, in an effort to conserve cash, Saks made some key mistakes that undermined the brands’ power, robbing stores of the sense of fun and wonder that is key for a luxury retailer.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Finally, the agency’s long-term legitimacy may be undermined.
—Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
Adopting the Southern view, the Supreme Court issued opinions that severely undermined the legal architecture of Reconstruction.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Adams himself chose not to run in the Democratic primary and initially mounted an independent campaign, but suspended his campaign in late September, saying that media speculation and funds withheld by the city's campaign finance board undermined his ability to fundraise.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
Debts are massive and while that isn’t bad in and of itself, the club’s grim past finances have undermined future confidence.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermined
Verb
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With some estimates putting wave heights as much as 35 feet, weakened hatch covers would have been vulnerable to such waves.—
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The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Verb
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But police-reform advocates say the momentum for change after Floyd’s death has stalled — and in some cases reversed — as transparency by law-enforcement agencies across the Bay Area and the nation has steadily eroded.—
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Consumers have remained reluctant to spend amid an uncertain employment outlook and a prolonged property crisis that has eroded household wealth.—
Verb
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The 13 apartments were damaged by fire, smoke or water.—
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But overloading the dishwasher can result in dirty dishes that need to be put through a second cycle to get clean, and dishes that are crammed in may become damaged.—
Verb
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The suspect is under investigation for causing a death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and driving while impaired through drugs or alcohol, authorities said.—
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An expert testified that the stroke had impaired his ability for executive decision-making.—
Verb
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Those claims were submitted using personal identifying information from people who were unaware that their identities were compromised and had not authorized someone to file claims on their behalf.—
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Removing personal information from data broker sites can reduce the impact if login details are compromised and limit how far an attack can spread.—
Verb
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At the time, Denver’s Landmark Preservation office told the Denver Gazette that the old neon was too deteriorated to restore.—
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The already-frosty relationship between Devers and the front office deteriorated to an irreparable level in May, when Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury.—
Cite this Entry
“Undermined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermined. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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