undermine
undermine — verb
1. to gradually make someone or something weaker, less confident, or less effective
to gradually make someone or something weaker, less confident, or less effective, especially through repeated criticism, doubt, or subtle actions that eat away at their position or reputation
Stefan's constant criticism began to undermine his daughter's confidence.
collocation: undermine + confidence / trust / authority
The manager's contradictory decisions undermined the team's trust in his leadership.
Spreading false rumours about colleagues can seriously undermine workplace morale.
Kemi felt that the new policy would undermine years of hard-won progress.
Tamar worried that the leaked report would undermine public trust in the hospital.
- weaken
broader and more neutral, without the implication of gradualness or stealth
- erode
emphasises slow, continuous wearing away over time; closer in metaphor to undermine
- sap
suggests draining energy or resources from within, often of a person or group
- undercut
implies a deliberate competitive act that removes support or advantage
- strengthen
direct opposite — to make someone or something stronger
- bolster
to support or prop up, especially confidence or morale
- reinforce
to make an existing quality or position stronger, often by adding support
文法句型
undermine + noun phrase
be undermined by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often appears in passive form ('be undermined by'). The subject is typically a person's actions, words, policies, or external events — not a physical force. For the physical sense of digging or washing away, see sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. to make the ground or supporting material under a structure weaker by removing i
to make the ground or supporting material under a structure weaker by removing it from underneath, typically through the action of water, digging, or erosion
Heavy rain had undermined the foundation of the old stone bridge.
passive: be undermined by [natural force]
The river current gradually undermined the riverbank near Lan's farm.
collocation: undermine + riverbank / foundation / base
Engineers found that tree roots had undermined the retaining wall over time.
The builders had to reinforce the cliff path after the sea had undermined it.
Mining operations had dangerously undermined the ground beneath several houses.
- erode
broader term for gradual wearing away by natural forces, often at the surface rather than from underneath
- wash away
more specific to water action; describes removal rather than structural weakening
- excavate
implies deliberate digging to hollow out; more neutral, less negative
- hollow out
describes the result of creating an empty space under something
文法句型
undermine + noun phrase (physical object)
be undermined by + natural force
用法筆記
Frequently appears in passive constructions. The agent is typically a natural force (water, waves, currents, sea) or human activity (digging, mining, construction). The result is a loss of physical support that can cause collapse.