undermine

present (v1)

undermine

past (v2)

undermined

past participle (v3)

undermined

present participle

undermining

3rd person singular

undermines

1. 1.To dig underneath (something), to make a passage for destructive or military purposes; to sap.

   • Martin, for instance, had on one occasion undermined a tree sacred to old gods, then stood in the path of its fall, but forced it to fall elsewhere by making the sign of the Cross.

2. 2.To weaken or work against; to hinder, sabotage.

   • The war efforts were undermined by the constant bickering between the allies.
   • The 'partygate' controversy has played a major part in undermining the credibility of Boris Johnson and his Government and has led to calls from senior MPs for him to resign.
   • The penile mishaps (one involving a bristled toothbrush), severings (one involves hungry ducks) and surgeries cited by Ms. Roach are nothing if not memorable, but her book consistently undermines its own discoveries.

3. 3.To erode the base or foundation of something, e.g. by the action of water.

4. 4.To regard an object as the sum of the parts that compose it, in object-oriented ontology.

Overall

Uncommon· #3963

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Rare

General reading & writing

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Academic

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Literature

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Word family

• mine
• under