undermining (B2)
verb (present participle/gerund)
Pronunciation: /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnɪŋ/
Definition
The act of gradually making someone or something less strong, effective, or confident, often in a sneaky or indirect way.
Examples
The constant criticism from his colleagues was slowly undermining his confidence.
Her actions were seen as undermining the authority of the team leader.
The report highlighted how poor infrastructure was undermining economic growth.
How to Use undermining
- undermine someone's confidence (collocation)
- To make someone feel less self-assured. — "The negative feedback was undermining her confidence in her abilities."
- undermine authority (collocation)
- To weaken the power or influence of someone in charge. — "The rebels sought to undermine the authority of the government."
- undermine a system/process (collocation)
- To weaken the effectiveness or stability of a system or process. — "Corruption can undermine the entire legal system."
Synonyms of undermining
Words with a similar meaning to undermining:
Antonyms of undermining
Words with the opposite meaning to undermining:
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