undermine
pronunciation
How to pronounce undermine in British English:
UK [ˌʌndəˈmaɪn]
How to pronounce undermine in American English:
US [ˌʌndərˈmaɪn]
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- Verb:
- destroy property or hinder normal operations
- hollow out as if making a cave or opening
Word Origin
- undermine (v.)
- c. 1300, undermyne, "render unstable by digging at the foundation," from under + mine (v.). The figurative sense "injure by invisible, secret, or dishonorable means" is attested from early 15c. Similar formation in Dutch ondermijnen, Danish underminere, German unterminiren. The Old English verb was underdelfan. Related: Undermined; undermining.
Example
- 1. They undermine the integrity of our economy and democracy .
- 2. Mrs clinton said nothing on her tour to undermine the idea that israel remains a special friend .
- 3. We will allow nothing to undermine that commitment .
- 4. Cronyism will inevitably undermine efficiency .
- 5. This approach would severely undermine the idea of establishing political union .