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undermine
verb
-
undermine
,
undermining
,
undermines
,
undermined
to
weaken
someone
or
something
little
by
little
,
often
in
a
secret
or
indirect
way
•
Negative
rumors
began
to
undermine
the
coach's
authority
within
the
team
.
Negative
rumors
began
to
undermine
the
coach's
authority
within
the
team
.
•
Constant
criticism
can
undermine
a
child's
confidence
.
Constant
criticism
can
undermine
a
child's
confidence
.
From
Middle
English
underminen
,
literally
“
dig
under
”,
from
under
+
mine
,
originally
referring
to
digging
beneath
walls
to
make
them
collapse
;
later
extended
figuratively
to
any
gradual
weakening
.
verb
-
undermine
,
undermining
,
undermines
,
undermined
to
dig
out
earth
beneath
a
structure
so
that
it
becomes
weak
or
collapses
•
Medieval
attackers
tried
to
undermine
the
castle
walls
to
make
them
crumble
.
Medieval
attackers
tried
to
undermine
the
castle
walls
to
make
them
crumble
.
•
Engineers
discovered
that
floodwaters
had
undermined
the
bridge
pier
,
making
repairs
urgent
.
Engineers
discovered
that
floodwaters
had
undermined
the
bridge
pier
,
making
repairs
urgent
.
Originally
a
literal
mining
term
:
to
remove
earth
or
rock
from
underneath
a
wall
or
building
so
it
collapses
,
especially
in
medieval
siege
warfare
.