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undermining
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Undermining
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un·der·mine
/
ˌʌn
dərˈmaɪn
or especially for 1, 2, 4,
ˈʌn
dərˌmaɪn
/
Show Spelled
[
uhn-der-
mahyn
or especially for 1, 2, 4,
uhn
-der-mahyn
]
Show IPA
verb (used with object),
un·der·mined,
un·der·min·ing.
1.
to injure or destroy by
insidious
activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect.
2.
to attack by indirect, secret, or underhand means; attempt to subvert by stealth.
3.
to make an excavation under; dig or tunnel beneath, as a military stronghold.
4.
to weaken or cause to collapse by removing underlying support, as by digging away or eroding the foundation.
Origin:
1300–50;
Middle English
underminen.
See
under-
,
mine
2
Related forms
un·der·min·er,
noun
un·der·min·ing·ly,
adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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undermining
00:10
Undermining
is always a great word to know.
So is
callithumpian
. Does it mean:
So is
gobo
. Does it mean:
So is
zedonk
. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
undermine
(ˌʌndəˈmaɪn)
—
vb
1.
(of the sea, wind, etc) to wear away the bottom or base of (land, cliffs, etc)
2.
to weaken gradually or insidiously:
their insults undermined her confidence
3.
to tunnel or dig beneath
under'miner
—
n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
undermine
c.1300, undermyne, from
under
+
mine
(v.). The fig. sense is attested from c.1430. Cf. Du. ondermijnen, Dan. underminere, Ger. unterminiren.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Their attempt is no less than the
undermining
of our future.
Government policies, therefore, should respect and support family and civil
society instead of
undermining
or supplanting them.
In ways both subtle and not so subtle, the movement is gradually
undermining
academic freedom.
They have every right to not promote a magazine which is purposely
undermining
that belief.
Low natural-gas prices are also
undermining
the case for wind power.
Proponents of information freedom and of
undermining
censorship are increasingly turning to more radical means of making a point.
He slips from the second to the first, in the process
undermining
his fallacious argument.
Typical maintenance includes checking for structural deficiencies such as
undermining
and debris buildup.
But of course cultural change anxiety does not justify
undermining
education and science.
Nuclear energy, far from
undermining
anti-proliferation efforts, can supplement them.
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Synonyms
destruction
disruption
overthrow
treachery
mischief
treason
injury
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