Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [uhn-der-mahyn or especially for 1, 2, 4, uhn-der-mahyn]
- /ˌʌn dərˈmaɪn or especially for 1, 2, 4, ˈʌn dərˌmaɪn/
- /ˌʌn.dəˈmaɪn/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [uhn-der-mahyn or especially for 1, 2, 4, uhn-der-mahyn]
- /ˌʌn dərˈmaɪn or especially for 1, 2, 4, ˈʌn dərˌmaɪn/
Definitions of undermine word
- verb with object undermine to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect. 1
- verb with object undermine to attack by indirect, secret, or underhand means; attempt to subvert by stealth. 1
- verb with object undermine to make an excavation under; dig or tunnel beneath, as a military stronghold. 1
- verb with object undermine to weaken or cause to collapse by removing underlying support, as by digging away or eroding the foundation. 1
- transitive verb undermine argument, progress 1
- transitive verb undermine gradually wear away 1
Information block about the term
Origin of undermine
First appearance:
before 1300 One of the 15% oldest English words
First recorded in 1300-50, undermine is from the Middle English word underminen. See under-, mine2
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Undermine
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
undermine popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 89% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
undermine usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for undermine
verb undermine
- actioned — Simple past tense and past participle of action.
- atrophied — exhibiting or affected with atrophy; wasted; withered; shriveled: an atrophied arm; an atrophied talent.
- atrophying — Also, atrophia [uh-troh-fee-uh] /əˈtroʊ fi ə/ (Show IPA). Pathology. a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.
- attenuate — To attenuate something means to reduce it or weaken it.
- bang up — When a prisoner is banged up, they are put in prison and locked in a cell.
Antonyms for undermine
verb undermine
- advocate — If you advocate a particular action or plan, you recommend it publicly.
- assist — If you assist someone, you help them to do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
- augment — To augment something means to make it larger, stronger, or more effective by adding something to it.
- ballyhooed — a clamorous and vigorous attempt to win customers or advance any cause; blatant advertising or publicity.
- blockaded — the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with u
- Words starting with un
- Words starting with und
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