ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsUundermine
ISEE/SSAThard
undermine
Meaning: to weaken or damage something gradually, often secretly
undermine in a sentence
How undermine is used in real sentences:
Constant criticism from his rival undermined the coach's confidence.
Spreading false rumors was a deliberate attempt to undermine her reputation.
“Repeated artifacts can undermine a study by slowly biasing averages that initially appear trustworthy.”
— from the passage Signals After Midnight
Synonyms for undermine
Other words for undermine — weaken, sabotage and subvert — carry the same meaning.
- weaken
- sabotage
- subvert
Antonyms of undermine
Words that mean the opposite of undermine:
- strengthen
- support
Where it comes from
From Old English underminen "to dig a tunnel beneath"
Memory hook
UNDER-MINE -- digging a mine under a structure secretly weakens its foundation.