undermine
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un·der·mine
(ŭn′dər-mīn′)tr.v. un·der·mined, un·der·min·ing, un·der·mines
1. To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation: Water has undermined the stone foundations.
2. To weaken, injure, or impair, often by degrees or imperceptibly; sap: Late hours can undermine one's health.
3. To dig a mine or tunnel beneath.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
undermine
(ˌʌndəˈmaɪn)vb (tr)
1. (Physical Geography) (of the sea, wind, etc) to wear away the bottom or base of (land, cliffs, etc)
2. to weaken gradually or insidiously: their insults undermined her confidence.
3. to tunnel or dig beneath
ˌunderˈminer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
un•der•mine
(ˌʌn dərˈmaɪn or, esp. for 1,2,4, ˈʌn dərˌmaɪn)v.t. -mined, -min•ing.
1. to impair, weaken, or destroy (health, morale, etc.) by imperceptible stages.
2. to make an excavation under; dig or tunnel beneath.
3. to weaken or cause to collapse by removing underlying supports.
[1300–50]
un′der•min`er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
undermine
Past participle: undermined
Gerund: undermining
Imperative |
---|
undermine |
undermine |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | undermine - destroy property or hinder normal operations; "The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war" derail - cause to run off the tracks; "they had planned to derail the trains that carried atomic waste" disobey - refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient; "He disobeyed his supervisor and was fired" |
2. | undermine - hollow out as if making a cave or opening; "The river was caving the banks" sap - excavate the earth beneath |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
undermine
verb
1. weaken, sabotage, subvert, compromise, disable, debilitate, disempower They are accused of trying to undermine the government.
weaken promote, sustain, strengthen, reinforce, fortify
weaken promote, sustain, strengthen, reinforce, fortify
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
undermine
verb1. To lessen or deplete the nerve, energy, or strength of:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُضْعِفيُقَوِّض، يَهْدِم
podemlítpodkopat
nedbrydeunderminere
heikentääsabotoida
חתר תחת
aláaknáz
grafa göng undir; grafa undangrafa undan, veikja
paplauti
grautiedragātizskalotparakties apakšā
podmyť
altını kazmak/oymakbaltalamakzayıflatmak
undermine
[ˌʌndəˈmaɪn] VT (fig) → minar, socavarhis health is being undermined by overwork → el exceso de trabajo le está minando la salud
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
undermine
[ˌʌndərˈmaɪn] vt [+ authority, government, confidence, morale, efforts] → saperto undermine sb's position (= weaken authority) → déstabiliser qn
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
undermine
(andəˈmain) verb1. to make (eg a building) insecure by digging away or destroying the base or foundations. The road was being undermined by a stream.
2. to weaken (eg a person's health or authority). Constant hard work had undermined his health.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
undermine
vt. dañar, debilitar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012