undermine

undermine — 動詞

1. to gradually make someone or something weaker, less confident, or less effective

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

削弱；損害

逐漸削弱信心、權威或效力

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

例句

Stefan's constant criticism began to undermine his daughter's confidence.

Stefan 不斷的批評開始削弱女兒的自信心。

collocation: undermine + confidence / trust / authority

The manager's contradictory decisions undermined the team's trust in his leadership.

經理自相矛盾的決定損害了團隊對其領導能力的信任。

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

❌The rain undermined her confidence.
✅The constant criticism undermined her confidence.
💡In the figurative sense, the subject should be a person's actions or words, not a natural force like weather.
❌The scandal undermined the building.
✅The scandal damaged the building's reputation.
💡For physical damage to a structure, use 'damaged' or 'weakened'; 'undermine' is best for a gradual, indirect process.

2. to make the ground or supporting material under a structure weaker by removing i

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

掏空地基

從底部挖空或沖刷，使失去支撐

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

例句

Heavy rain had undermined the foundation of the old stone bridge.

大雨侵蝕了那座古老石橋的地基。

passive: be undermined by [natural force]

The river current gradually undermined the riverbank near Lan's farm.

河水水流逐漸沖刷 Lan 農場附近的河岸，使河岸底部被掏空。

collocation: undermine + riverbank / foundation / base

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • reinforce

    to make stronger by adding material or support

  • fortify

    to strengthen against attack or natural forces

  • shore up

    to prop up or support something at risk of collapse

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.

常見錯誤

❌The waves undermined the boat.
✅The waves undermined the pier.
💡'Undermine' refers to removing support from under something fixed, not to rocking or destabilising a floating object.