Undermine
A report looks convincing until someone finds that its strongest statistic came from an unreliable source. The new detail weakens the argument without necessarily settling the whole debate.
Learn This WordMeaning
To weaken or damage the strength, confidence, authority, or foundation of something, often gradually or indirectly.
Memory trick
Imagine a wall with a tunnel dug beneath its foundations. The wall becomes weaker even before it falls: that is the literal picture behind undermine.
Examples
Repeatedly changing the rules can undermine public trust in the process.
The discovery of missing records undermined the report’s conclusion.
Constant interruptions undermined her confidence during the presentation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English underminen "to dig beneath," combining under with mine. The literal image of weakening a structure from below developed into the figurative sense.
Usage Notes
Often used with confidence, credibility, trust, authority, or an argument. In GMAT critical reasoning, evidence that undermines a conclusion weakens its support; it need not prove the conclusion false.
Real-life contexts
Discuss trust: "Broken promises undermine confidence in the team."
Evaluate reasoning: "Does that evidence undermine the explanation?"
Describe an effect: "The constant criticism was undermining his confidence."
Common Mistakes
Do not confuse undermine with underestimate: undermine means weaken, while underestimate means judge something as less than it is. Undermining a claim is not necessarily refuting it completely or doing so intentionally.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
intermediate