undermines

verb

present tense third-person singular of undermine
as in weakens
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of undermines An overly aggressive posture undermines the partnership the city has worked to secure through 2030. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Criminalizing editorial judgment sets a dangerous precedent and undermines Bangladesh’s reputation as a democracy. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 Power lies with consular officers, judge says Vargas said the policy also undermines the congressional requirement that puts consular officers at the forefront of any visa decision. — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 Trade secret law is more promising for methodology kept genuinely confidential, though the publicity of the legal system undermines most such claims. — Hamid Kohan, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 But our current electronic monitoring system undermines those goals when it is used as a substitute for detention of dangerous defendants. — Eileen Burke, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 Also, and not to totally belabor the point, but limiting analysis of the NFL’s impact on the ad market to in-game revenue effectively undermines the second-order impact on non-NFL pricing. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Unethical conduct undermines the rule of law, risks national security, and sets a dangerous precedent for every level of government. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 Turning this whole thing into a joke also undermines the danger of the Trawler — just how seriously are we supposed to take this threat? — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermines
  1. weakens
  2. erodes
  3. impairs
  4. damages
Verb
  • Siegel noted that measles weakens the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia, which can stem from measles itself or from a secondary bacterial infection.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Employment has been a mostly resilient area of the economy even as stubborn inflation continues to squeeze businesses and households, while consumer confidence weakens.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • The reassuring finding, across the research represented in the room at the CIFAR workshop, is that candidness about uncertainty generally maintains or builds trust rather than erodes it.
    — Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The vision ultimately describes a county where growth enhances rather than erodes the characteristics that make Placer distinct.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of erodes
Verb
  • The delay, the filing notes, impairs Pewitt’s defense because the memories of witnesses fade and their availability is unknown, and the ability to find and re-examine physical evidence after 31 years is compromised.
    — Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Hwang suffered a traumatic brain injury from the attack, leading to ataxia, a neurological disorder that impairs movement and muscle control, and occasional seizures.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of impairs
Verb
  • And one of the toughest critiques — that service damages mental health — doesn’t hold up.
    — Tom Suozzi, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Nuisance, negligence and harm to residents The largest set of claims in the lawsuit has to do with arguing that the data center damages residents’ health, futures and quality of life in the areas closest to the 400-acre hyperscale AI factory.
    — Ilana Arougheti Updated August 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of damages

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Cite this Entry

“Undermines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermines. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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