Undermines (verb)

Meaning & Definition of Undermines

to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly
to weaken or ruin by degrees
to wash away supporting material from under

Undermines (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way

"She tried to undermine my authority by complaining about me to my boss."
"The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government."

similar: deteriorates, enervates, enfeebles, weakens, blemishes, bloodies, breaks, compromises, crabs, cripples, crosses (up), damages, defaces, disfigures, endamages, flaws, harms, hurts, impairs, injures, mars, spoils, vitiates, erodes, scours, washes out, wears (away), blights, tarnishes, dents, dings, dints, botches, gums (up), queers, lacerates, wounds, disables, hamstrings, lames, maims, mangles, mutilates, torments, tortures, annihilates, bangs up, bashes, batters, clobbers, crushes, dashes, decimates, demolishes, desolates, destroys, devastates, does in, pulverizes, razes, ruins, scourges, shatters, smashes, tears down, totals, wastes, wipes out, wrecks

opposite: cures, heals, helps, rectifies, rehabilitates, remedies, edits, remodels, revises, ameliorates, betters, enhances, enriches, improves, meliorates, perfects, refines, doctors, fixes, mends, patches, rebuilds, reconditions, reconstructs, renovates, repairs, revamps

Related Entry: Undermine (verb)

Undermine is a different word from Undermines. The synonyms below are for undermine, not for undermines.

to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way

"She tried to undermine my authority by complaining about me to my boss."
"The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government."

similar: deteriorate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken, blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cripple, cross (up), damage, deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate, erode, scour, wash out, wear (away), blight, tarnish, dent, ding, dint, botch, gum (up), queer, lacerate, wound, disable, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, torment, torture, annihilate, bang up, bash, batter, clobber, crush, dash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, scourge, shatter, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wreck

opposite: cure, heal, help, rectify, rehabilitate, remedy, edit, remodel, revise, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine, doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Undermines

The most common words with a similar meaning to Undermines:

deteriorates, enervates, enfeebles, weakens, blemishes, bloodies, breaks, compromises, crabs, cripples, crosses (up), damages, defaces, disfigures, endamages, flaws, harms, hurts, impairs, injures, mars, spoils, vitiates, erodes, scours, washes out, wears (away), blights, tarnishes, dents, dings, dints, botches, gums (up), queers, lacerates, wounds, disables, hamstrings, lames

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Undermines

Words with the opposite meaning of Undermines:

Word Forms of Undermines

Inflections: undermined, undermining

Origin & Etymology of Undermines

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Undermines

What does "Undermines" mean?

"Undermines" means to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly. As a verb, it is defined as: to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly.

What is another word for "Undermines"?

Other words for "Undermines" include deteriorates, enervates, enfeebles, weakens, blemishes, bloodies, breaks and compromises. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Undermines" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Undermines"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Undermines". Common alternatives include deteriorates, enervates, enfeebles, weakens, blemishes, bloodies, breaks, compromises, crabs and cripples.

What is the opposite of "Undermines"?

Antonyms of "Undermines" include cures, heals, helps, rectifies, rehabilitates, remedies, edits and remodels.

How do you use "Undermines" in a sentence?

Examples of "Undermines" in a sentence: "She tried to undermine my authority by complaining about me to my boss."; "The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government.".

Is "Undermines" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Undermines" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Undermines"?

"Undermines" is pronounced /ˌən-dər-ˈmīn/ and divided into syllables as un·der·mine.

What is the origin of the word "Undermines"?

First known use: 14th century.