Undermine Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

Do you know that most people often lack the exact words to describe situations? For instance, have you ever interacted with someone who makes it their life’s mission to frustrate your every action or slowly wear you out constantly? If you’d like to define this situation using one word, the correct word would be “undermine.”

Undermine definition is “an action meant to impair, weaken or compromise using subtle, cunning, or insidious means.” Such actions are usually carried out frequently to achieve the desired objective. Sentences with this term describe an individual’s action to frustrate or cause someone to give up. 

“Undermine” also has several other meanings applicable in different scenarios. This article aims to discuss the term’s other meanings, the different forms of the word, and how best to use the word in your speech and writing. For words with various meanings, it’s best to practice using the word to understand how to use it fully. Are you ready? Let’s begin by looking at the other definitions of undermine.

What Is the Definition of Undermine?

Another definition of “undermine” is “weakening, disabling, or wearing down a base or foundation.” The act of making a structure appear compromised with a specific motive.

This definition is used in reference to objects or structures with a foundation. It’s important to note that the weakening of a foundation is frequently done over time. Additionally, the action is carried out at the base hence the suffix under.

If a structure crumbled to the ground, it’s probable that its base or foundation had been constantly weakened enough to compromise the entire structure. When the word gets embraced in construction, this is the meaning many refer to.

Here are some sentences to better explain the definition:

• After the building crumbled, investigations started to determine what could undermine the building’s foundation.
• If you use untreated wooden posts for your fence, termites can undermine them, thus, shortening their lifespan.

The word undermine also refers to the action of mining or digging a tunnel beneath the surface. The word, in this case, refers to the action of digging or mining underneath but not to compromise any structures above.

Hence, the word in this specific situation should be used literally; under-mine. Here are some sentences to expound more on this:

• The mole is an animal known for its excellent undermine activities.
• The expert asked for two excavators to undermine and make a tunnel.

What Is the Meaning of Undermine?

The most common meaning of the word undermine is “to make someone weaker, less powerful, less effective, or less likely to succeed at certain objectives.”

When someone undermines another, they often use hidden or subtle tactics to give them an unfair advantage. Such efforts are effective when they are gradual or constant. When someone says that you’re undermining them, they mean that you are making them less strong or less confident than they were before.

You’ll also notice that “undermined” is among the most used forms of “undermine.” When used in sentences, the meaning remains the same. Here are some example sentences:

• The chairperson has constantly complained of being undermined by her subordinates.
• Despite the police’s excellent work of keeping drugs off the street, their work is undermined by a few bad officers.
• The rocks at the river have been undermined by the constant flow of water on them hence their smooth texture.

Is Undermine Used in Medicine?

The term undermine is also used in medical terms to refer to the constant but gradual weakening of certain organs, thus compromising the body’s functionality.

When something undermines bodily functions, they make them less efficient or unhealthy than before, resulting in complications. For instance, a sickness that makes you unable to eat can be said to undermine the efficiency of the body by preventing it from taking in more nutrients.

Here are some example sentences with “undermines.”

• Constant ingestion of carbohydrates results in increased body weight and undermines body movement.
• Smoking undermines the lungs’ ability to continue functioning at an optimum level.

Is Undermine A Negative Word?

Not necessarily, the word undermine is defined as weakening a structure or someone’s efforts gradually without attracting any attention. Undermine is also used to describe the process of digging a hole underneath the surface to form a tunnel. In the second scenario, the term is not necessarily a negative action. However, the term is most often negative as it expresses a person’s repeated efforts to make them less confident or less secure than they initially were.

How to Use Undermine in a Sentence?

When you use the word as a transitive verb, it defines the constant action of subverting or sabotaging secretly to compromise or weaken. “Undermined” is the past tense of the term. “Undermining” is the continuous tense of the word.

In this section, we will examine the different forms of the word and how to use them correctly. Learn from the sentences below.

• No matter what you do, there will always be people ready to undermine your actions.
• Rushed construction of the foundation undermines the integrity of the entire house.
• Individuals suffering from depression will have their relationships undermined.
• If these workers continue undermining their boss, they’ll probably be fired.

When used as a noun, the word becomes “underminer” to mean a person undermining another. The word can also be used as an adverb (underminingly) to describe how specific actions are carried out.

• Andrew came in and underminingly threw out all of our proposals.
• Kobe Bryant underminingly took a fellow’s player seat, forcing him to sit on the floor.

10 Examples of Undermine Usage in a Sentence

The following sentences show how to embrace the various forms of the word “undermine.” Use these sentences to practice using the word. Don’t forget to make other exciting sentences using the word independently.

1. Michael seems to have a problem with me because he always finds a way to undermine my efforts and zeitgeist knowledge..
2. Russia is undermining any process of restoring peace in Ukraine and eventually leaving Ukraine’s territory.
3. The prolonged drought in certain parts of Africa threatens to undermine the peace of the affected regions.
4. We do not welcome any information that will undermine an individual’s credibility or authority.
5. She was the quintessential Barbie girl who undermined everyone.
6. Watch your step with Amanda; she may look simple, but everything she does will undermine us.
7. Some parts of the ground are undermined by the Chinchillas that live in the caves.
8. A heavy backpack will make traveling hard and undermine your spine’s health.
9. Due to the constant leaking of the foundation, the structure of the building was undermined and eventually led to its destruction.
10. Alcohol addiction affects friends and family and undermines the person’s health.
11. If these clauses are included in the constitution, they will undermine service delivery and the nation’s peace.

How Do You Spell Undermine?

The term undermine is spelled as “u.n.d.e.r.m.i.n.e”

The word is easy to spell; however, remember to pay attention to the letter “e” at the end of the word because it’s silent. Note that the word has two joint words, under and mine, making it easier to spell. The best way to learn how to spell words is through constant practice.

How Do You Pronounce Undermine?

The word undermine has two pronunciations; uhn.dr.mine is an American accent, and uhn.duh.mine is the British accent.

While these two pronunciations are acceptable in the English language, they are different. Pronouncing both the first and the last syllables of the word is similar in both cases; the middle syllable is where the difference lies. Whichever pronunciation you pick, it’s crucial to practice pronouncing the word correctly.

Synonyms Of The Word “Undermine”

• Sabotage
• Impair
• Ruin
• Wreck

Antonyms Of The Word “Undermine”

• Fix
• Assist
• Relieve
• Build

How Many Syllables Are In Undermine?

The word undermine has three syllables; un.der.mine.

Remember to note the number of times a vowel appears when counting syllables in a particular word.

History & Etymology of Undermine

The term undermine originates from the Dutch ondermijen, Old English underdelfan, and the Danish underminere. Around 1300, the word morphed into undermyne, meaning “unstable through weakening the foundation by digging.”

The word “undermine” is made of two words “under and mine.” The first part of the word under comes from the Old English, meaning beneath, among, or in the presence of. In the 14th century, however, the word was used to describe something lower in position.

The second part “mine,” also comes from the Old English word miner, which means excavating or “digging in the Earth.” In the 14th century, the word described the act of extraction through mining.

When Was Undermine First Used?

The word was first recognized as an English word in the 14th century.

Note that both under and mine were used for their current definitions in the same century and were merged to form the word used today.

Conclusion

The word undermine should not pose any challenge in your speech and writing. However, should you have any challenges regarding “undermine” definition, meaning, or usage, you can always refer to this article for clarification. Don’t forget to read more about the word to understand how to use it in varying contexts.