compromise a position

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compromise a position" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing situations where someone's stance or viewpoint is weakened or undermined. For example: "His decision to support the proposal may compromise his position within the party." Alternative expressions include "undermine a position" and "weaken a position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Macon Phillips, the White House media director, offered these marching orders: Mr. Obama and his top aides have been eager throughout the debt debate to cast the president as the one interested in compromise, a position they hope will appeal directly to the moderate and independent voters that will help him get re-elected next year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Probably sitting with all the other ends of the sticks, balancing out the ethics of playing September spoiler while trying not to compromise a high draft position.

The Guardian - Sport

We link social responsibility to talent retention". A failure to consider employees as vital in the organization's overall success can compromise a company's competitive position.

HuffPost

Lemass's retirement in 1966 caused an internal party conflict over the succession that led to Lynch's selection as a compromise candidate, a position he reluctantly accepted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His identity as a bigot had finally begun to compromise his position as a policy-maker.

Huffington Post

Such actions compromise your position as a union president.

HuffPost

Now there is a compromise position: A fund that tracks the sector weightings of the S&P 500 but not its individual stocks.

Forbes

Lance Rose, a New York City-based attorney specializing in new media who wrote a book called NetLaw, thinks that Sun is in a compromised position since Microsoft, as a programmer, has every right to decide what aspects of Java it should use, and what characteristics it should be able to customize.

Forbes

Licciardi further compromised his position as a law enforcement officer by encouraging a witness to lie about [his] involvement in this conspiracy," Polite said in a statement.

Los Angeles Times

Furthermore, since Pedro II had clearly taken a political side on the slavery question, he had compromised his position as a neutral arbiter.

Wikipedia

For clinician scientists such as myself and journalists across platforms to not raise issues of concern would be as Siegel states, "a betrayal of public trust," the turning of our backs on glaringly bizarre and seemingly dangerous behavior, and the normalization of a President who achieved office by unprecedented means and who discharges the duties of his Office from a compromised position.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when an action or event makes a person's or organization's professional or strategic standing vulnerable or less credible. It is particularly effective in political and legal analysis.

Common error

Do not use "compromise a position" when you mean that two parties have successfully negotiated a deal. In that case, use "compromise on a position" or "reach a compromise". Without the preposition "on", the verb "compromise" usually implies that the position has been harmed or weakened.

Linguistic Context

In the context of the examples provided by Ludwig, "compromise a position" functions primarily as a transitive verb phrase. It describes an action where a specific standing, reputation, or strategic advantage is weakened or put at risk. Ludwig AI confirms its status as correct and usable in modern English.

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "compromise a position" is a versatile and common phrase used to describe the weakening or endangering of a strategic or professional standing. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in top-tier news publications and academic journals. It is important for writers to distinguish this from the act of finding an agreement, as the phrase almost always carries a negative connotation of vulnerability. By using this phrase, you can accurately convey how specific actions or revelations can "undermine a stance" or "weaken a position".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weaken a position

A more direct and common way to describe the loss of strength or influence.

undermine a stance

Focuses on weakening the logical foundation or validity of a person's viewpoint.

jeopardize a standing

Emphasizes the element of risk and potential professional danger.

impair a status

A more formal way to describe structural or functional damage to a person's rank.

reach a compromise

Shifts the focus from damaging a standing to achieving a mutual settlement.

threaten a ranking

Used most often in competitive, sports, or academic contexts regarding hierarchical standing.

prejudice a case

Specific to legal or formal arguments where an action causes harm to a future outcome.

dilute an argument

Suggests making a point less potent or clear by adding conflicting elements.

find middle ground

A collaborative alternative that suggests settling a dispute through negotiation.

sacrifice a principle

Focuses on the moral or ethical cost of a decision rather than just strategy.

FAQs

Is "compromise a position" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is correct. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is frequently used to describe a situation where a person's or entity's status or credibility is weakened.

What is the difference between "compromise a position" and "reach a compromise"?

To "compromise a position" means to weaken or damage it, whereas to "reach a compromise" means to find a middle ground or a mutual agreement between two parties.

Can I use "compromise a position" in formal writing?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for formal writing. It often appears in news outlets like "The New York Times" and "The Guardian" to describe political vulnerability.

What can I say instead of "compromise a position"?

You can use alternatives like "undermine a stance", "weaken a position", or "jeopardize a standing" depending on the specific context.