Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Undermine
Unˊder-mine′
,Verb.
T.
1.
To excavate the earth beneath, or the part of, especially for the purpose of causing to fall or be overthrown; to form a mine under; to sap;
as, to
. undermine
a wallA vast rock
undermined
from one end to the other, and a highway running through it. Addison.
2.
Fig.: To remove the foundation or support of by clandestine means; to ruin in an underhand way;
as, to
. undermine
reputation; to undermine
the constitution of the stateHe should be warned who are like to
undermine
him. Locke.
Webster 1828 Edition
Undermine
UNDERMI'NE
, v.t.1.
To sap; to excavate the earth beneath, for the purpose of suffering to fall, or of blowing up; as, to undermine a wall.2.
To excavate the earth beneath. Rapid streams often undermine their banks and the trees growing upon them.3.
To remove the foundation or support of any thing by clandestine means; as, to undermine reputation; to undermine the constitution of the state.He should be warned who are like to undermine him.
Definition 2024
undermine
undermine
English
Verb
undermine (third-person singular simple present undermines, present participle undermining, simple past and past participle undermined)
- To dig underneath (something), to make a passage or for destructive or military purposes; to sap. [from 14th c.]
- 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 312:
- Martin, for instance, had on one occasion undermined a tree sacred to old gods, then stood in the path of its fall, but forced it to fall elsewhere by making the sign of the Cross.
- 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 312:
- (figuratively) To weaken or work against; to hinder, sabotage. [from 15th c.]
- 2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in the Guardian:
- The growing use of social media to spread anger and dissent in the Arab world has been hailed by western governments as one of the chief justifications for a completely unfettered internet. The US is reportedly funding the secret rollout of technology in Iran in an effort to undermine internet censors in the country.
- The war efforts were undermined by the constant bickering between the allies.
-
Antonyms
Translations
hinder, sabotage
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to dig, tunnel, hollow out as if making a cave or opening