![]() To keep something under (one's) hat "secret" is from 1885 to have something under (one's) nose "in plain sight" is from 1540s to speak under (one's) breath "in a low voice" is attested from 1832. Under the table is from 1913 in the sense of "very drunk," 1940s in sense of "illegal" ( under-board "dishonest" is from c. Under the weather "indisposed" is from 1810. (though this may be an entirely separate root see understand). Also used in Old English as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. As an adjective, "lower in position lower in rank or degree" from 13c. ![]() With reference to standards, "less than in age, price, value," etc., late 14c. 1 : to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly trying to undermine his political rivals 2 : to weaken or ruin by degrees 3 : to wash away supporting. Notion of "inferior in rank, position, etc." was present in Old English. Productive as a prefix in Old English, as in German and Scandinavian (often forming words modeled on Latin ones in sub-). Send us feedback.Old English under (prep.) "beneath, among, before, in the presence of, in subjection to, under the rule of, by means of," also, as an adverb, "beneath, below, underneath," expressing position with reference to that which is above, from Proto-Germanic *under- (source also of Old Frisian under, Dutch onder, Old High German untar, German unter, Old Norse undir, Gothic undar), from PIE *ndher- "under" (source also of Sanskrit adhah "below " Avestan athara- "lower " Latin infernus "lower," infra "below"). These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'undermine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 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. 2022 Republicans said the new measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession.Īlan Fram And Lisa Mascaro, Chron, 7 Aug. They forgot to invite you to that big project. 2022 Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession.Īlan Fram,, 7 Aug. But you should become concerned if a certain person always seems to forget you. 2022 Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession.ĬBS News, 7 Aug. When engineers came to examine the cracks in the structure of the building, they discovered that years of flooding had worked to undermine the. Chloe hoped that her allergies were not going to undermine her ability to perform in the recital. 2022 Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession. to weaken, hinder, sabotage Examples of Undermine in a sentence. To excavate beneath, as earth or rock, for the purpose of creating a fall, or blowing up the mass to injure by secret and dishonourable means. 2022 Some fishers claim that strict state and federal regulations designed to conserve stocks undermine their livelihoods even more.Įmily Cataneo, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Aug. To sap to excavate the earth beneath to remove the foundation or support of anything by clandestine means. 2022 Our research on prosecuting world leaders finds that both sweeping immunity and overzealous prosecutions can undermine democracy. 3 1 sabotage Sabotage is defined as to intentionally destroy something. 4 0 enfeeble To deprive of strength make feeble. ![]() An example of to undermine is digging a space under a walkway for irrigation. Undermine Undermine synonyms and antonyms n'dr-mn' Meanings Synonyms Sentences Sorting by Votes Category: most common Unique synonym related antonym ruin To cause the ruin of. Similar formation in Dutch ondermijnen, Danish underminere, German unterminiren. Undermine is defined as to dig beneath, weaken or injure. 2022 Some experts argue that further isolating Afghanistan will only undermine the moderate faction. 1300, undermyne, 'render unstable by digging at the foundation,' from under + mine (v.1) 'dig.' The figurative sense 'injure by invisible, secret, or dishonorable means' is attested from early 15c. Recent Examples on the Web Oil slumped to its lowest level since January on Wednesday amid fears that slowing global growth will undermine demand. Undermined definition, attacked, weakened, or defeated by underhand or seemingly harmless actions or by imperceptible stages:Both the struggling students and the most gifted ones are receiving limited support from an undermined educational system.
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