undermine

verb

/ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/

/ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they undermine	/ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/ /ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/
he / she / it undermines	/ˌʌndəˈmaɪnz/ /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnz/
past simple undermined	/ˌʌndəˈmaɪnd/ /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnd/
past participle undermined	/ˌʌndəˈmaɪnd/ /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnd/
-ing form undermining	/ˌʌndəˈmaɪnɪŋ/ /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnɪŋ/

jump to other results

undermine something/somebody to make something, especially somebody’s confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective逐渐削弱（信心、权威等）；使逐步减少效力
- Our confidence in the team has been seriously undermined by their recent defeats.他们最近的几次失利已严重动摇了我们对该队的信心。
- This crisis has undermined his position.这场危机已损害了他的地位。
- Recent changes have undermined teachers’ morale.最近的变化削弱了教师的士气。
- The director saw this move as an attempt to undermine his authority.经理认为此举是想削弱他的权威。
- It's all a plot to undermine me.都是阴谋破坏我。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- greatly
- radically
- seriously
- …
verb + undermine
- threaten to
- attempt to
- seek to
- …
See full entry
undermine something to make something weaker at the base, for example by digging under it从根基处破坏；挖…的墙脚

Word OriginMiddle English: from under- + the verb mine, probably suggested by Middle Dutch ondermineren.