cause to undermine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause to undermine" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing actions or events that lead to the weakening or destabilization of something, but it may require additional context for clarity. Example: "The recent decisions made by the management could cause to undermine the team's morale."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Instead of converging on a path of reason, Bosnia's various nationalists look more likely to make common cause to undermine the Dayton peace deal.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Houthis called the withdrawal an effort to undermine their legitimacy and cause economic havoc.

Los Angeles Times

They said we were conducting a concerted campaign to undermine their clients and cause them damage.

HuffPost

It is because of the deeply unrealistic, pessimistic assumptions about the nature of individuals and corporations that underlie current management doctrine and that, in practice, cause managers to undermine their own worth.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Without realizing it, these and other ingrained perception errors can cause us to undermine our own best interests".

Huffington Post

Financial incentives may be stolen or misused or cause recipients to undermine or ignore unrewarded tasks.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

We can't allow such an important cause to be undermined by such an abdication of responsibility.

The Guardian

Obviously he doesn't want the government to get involved, so he closes by imploring the techno-overclass to "resist the temptation to arrogance" that might cause all this wizardry to undermine our humanity.

The New York Times - Books

But it was a special brand of fraud to build his career by convincing the world that he was a champion of the very cause he was working to undermine.

HuffPost

In a reversal of the way Jewish history and tradition has been understood for many centuries, the Zionist animus against Arabs and their religion has now caused some fanatical Jews to undermine the reality of the past.

Huffington Post

Manafort's plea documents the extraordinary lengths he went to in order to undermine her cause.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause to undermine", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what is causing the undermining and what is being undermined. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid constructing overly complex sentences when using "cause to undermine". Simpler sentence structures can often convey the message more effectively and prevent the sentence from sounding awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause to undermine" functions as a connector, linking an action or event to its consequence of weakening or destabilizing something. As Ludwig AI also points out, the phrase might necessitate additional context for improved clarity. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in varied contexts, from political deals to personal worth.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "cause to undermine" is less common in contemporary English and can sometimes sound awkward. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's best used when clearly linking an action to its consequence of weakening something. The phrase appears across news media, academic writing, and scientific publications, suggesting a neutral to slightly formal register. For clearer and more impactful writing, alternatives like "lead to the undermining of" or "result in undermining" may be preferable. The phrase is not frequently used, therefore it is important to write contextually so that the sentence is impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lead to the undermining of

Emphasizes the consequence of an action resulting in the weakening of something.

result in undermining

Highlights the outcome where something is weakened as a direct consequence.

contribute to the erosion of

Suggests a gradual weakening or wearing away of something over time.

foster the downfall of

Implies actively promoting the failure or collapse of something.

bring about the collapse of

Highlights the action of initiating the failure of something.

precipitate the decline of

Focuses on accelerating the deterioration or decay of something.

exacerbate the weakening of

Indicates making an existing weakness or vulnerability even worse.

help to sabotage

Suggests intentional actions aimed at disrupting or destroying something.

aid in the disruption of

Implies assisting in the interruption or disturbance of something.

play a role in subverting

Focuses on the act of undermining the power or authority of something.

FAQs

How can I use "cause to undermine" in a sentence?

You can use "cause to undermine" to describe actions or situations that weaken something. For example, "The company's poor decisions could cause to undermine its market position."

What are some alternatives to "cause to undermine"?

Alternatives include "lead to the undermining of", "result in undermining", or "contribute to the erosion of" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "cause to undermine" or "lead to undermining"?

"Lead to undermining" is generally more common and sounds more natural in contemporary English. "Cause to undermine" is grammatically correct but can sound slightly formal or awkward.

What's the difference between "cause to undermine" and "undermine"?

"Undermine" directly implies weakening or damaging something. "Cause to undermine" suggests a chain of events where one thing leads to the weakening of another. For example, "His actions undermined the project" versus "His actions could cause to undermine the project's success."