un
der
mine
Third Person
undermines
Present Participle
undermining
Past Tense
undermined
Past Participle
undermined
1
to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone
transitive
- Skipping maintenance checks might undermine the long-term reliability of the equipment.
- Constant criticism can undermine a person's self-confidence.
- Ignoring safety protocols can undermine the integrity of a project.
- The constant negativity of the supervisor undermined the team's enthusiasm.
- The economic downturn severely undermined the company's financial stability.
2
to dig or make a hollow space beneath a structure or surface
transitive
- Over time, the river managed to undermine sections of the cliff, causing rockfalls.
- The construction crew had to be careful not to undermine the walls when digging the basement.
- Burrowing animals can undermine a garden, creating hidden tunnels and holes.
Synonyms: