undercut confidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"undercut confidence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone's confidence has been reduced or weakened. For example, "The harsh words spoken by her co-workers undercut her confidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

If politicians ignore rating agencies' warnings, they risk a withering assault of additional downgrades that could undercut confidence in the government and inflict soaring interest rates.

The New York Times

The other is its inability to act quickly and decisively to address the crises that regularly undercut confidence among voters and in the markets.

The New York Times

But many experts stressed that the new analysis did not undercut confidence that humans were the main cause of warming now -- a conclusion based on a host of evidence trails, including ocean warming and accelerating melting of glaciers.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Another deputy, Konstantin V. Remchyukov, said the problem was that the prosecution of Mr. Khodorkovsky appeared selective, undercutting confidence in the judicial system.

The New York Times

For the more than 100,000 Jews who live in Germany, the tenor of the circumcision debate has come as a shock, undercutting confidence that they had found a secure place in society after the horrors of the Holocaust.

The New York Times

Yet the record of how minor league indoor professional teams have fared would seem to undercut such confidence.

The New York Times

That beloved white girl-ness — so at odds with the physical fact of herself — undercut any confidence she might have had.

The New Yorker

Champions of nuclear power argued that the chance of release of iodine was so small that distributing drugs in advance over a wide area would only undercut public confidence in the safety of nuclear power.

The New York Times - Health

In his letter to the financial authority, known as Finra, Mr. Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that "while SAC Capital itself has not been charged, these allegations raise serious questions about the corporate culture at SAC Capital and undercut investor confidence in a fair and balanced playing field".

The New York Times

Although these suits seem unlikely to succeed — no clear evidence of a link between thimerosal and autism has been found — they have already cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars in court costs, and they have helped undercut public confidence in vaccination.

The New York Times

"We want to nurture children -- to say, 'Gosh, yes, you did a good job, that's right.' " Mrs. Little said she worried that standardized testing would undercut the confidence of children like Nate, who is bright, but afraid of making mistakes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undercut confidence", be specific about what is causing the reduction in confidence. Providing context will make your writing clearer and more impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "undercut confidence" when a more direct verb like "destroy", "shatter", or "demolish" would more accurately convey the severity of the impact on confidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undercut confidence" functions as a verb phrase where "undercut" is the verb acting upon the noun "confidence". It signifies an action that diminishes or weakens someone's assurance or belief in themselves or something else. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows that this phrase is used to describe how certain actions or events affect confidence levels.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undercut confidence" serves to describe an action or event that diminishes one's belief in their abilities or the reliability of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts. While generally neutral in register, it appears most frequently in news, business, and scientific articles. To enhance clarity, specify the cause of reduced confidence and, if the impact on confidence is severe, consider using stronger verbs such as "destroy" or "shatter". Alternatives such as "erode trust" or "damage credibility" can provide similar meaning with different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sap self-assurance

Specifies that it is self-assurance that is being diminished, adding a reflexive aspect.

diminish assurance

Emphasizes the reduction of a guarantee or certainty, not necessarily the internal feeling of confidence.

erode trust

Focuses on the gradual destruction of trust rather than a direct reduction of confidence.

undermine belief

Focuses on weakening belief in something specific, whereas "undercut confidence" can be more general.

damage credibility

Shifts the focus to the loss of believability rather than the internal feeling of confidence.

dent certainty

Suggests a surface-level impact on certainty, implying it might be recoverable.

weaken resolve

Highlights the reduction of determination or firmness of purpose, not necessarily confidence in general.

erode conviction

Highlights the gradual weakening of a firmly held opinion or belief, rather than general confidence.

shake faith

Emphasizes a disturbance or questioning of deeply held beliefs rather than general confidence.

deflate morale

Shifts focus to the overall spirit and enthusiasm within a group, not individual confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "undercut confidence" in a sentence?

You can use "undercut confidence" to describe actions or events that diminish someone's belief in their abilities or the reliability of something. For example, "The constant criticism from his manager "undercut his confidence"."

What's a more formal way to say "undercut confidence"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "erode trust" or "damage credibility" to convey a similar meaning, focusing on the external perception rather than internal feeling of confidence.

What words are synonymous with "undercut confidence"?

Synonyms include "weaken resolve", "shake faith", or "diminish assurance". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "undercutting confidence" or "undercut confidence"?

"Undercutting confidence" implies an ongoing process, while "undercut confidence" suggests a completed action. The choice depends on whether you're describing a continuous effect or a one-time event.