undermine — to gradually weaken or damage something or someone
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to gradually weaken or damage something or someone
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/
Example Sentences
- The student's habit of sleeping in class completely undermined the teacher's 'exciting' math lesson.
- Eating pizza while on a diet tends to undermine your weight loss goals.
- The leak of confidential information undermined the company's reputation.
undermine
VERB[/ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/]
to gradually weaken or damage something or someone
Constant cheating undermined the team's trust.
Hidden cracks undermined the building's foundation. (🏛️ Foundation + ⬇️ Weaken → Undermine)
Hidden damage undermined the bridge, weakened it, and caused its collapse.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English and Old English, combining the prefix 'under-' (beneath) with the verb 'mine' (to dig). The term originally referred to the literal act of digging beneath something to cause it to collapse, later developing the metaphorical sense of weakening something gradually.
Breakdown
under- (beneath, below) + mine (to dig) = undermine (to dig beneath, to weaken gradually)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The student's habit of sleeping in class completely undermined the teacher's 'exciting' math lesson.”
“Eating pizza while on a diet tends to undermine your weight loss goals.”
“The leak of confidential information undermined the company's reputation.”
“Constant interruptions during meetings undermine productivity.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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