undermine credibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine credibility" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to weaken or damage someone's or something's reputation or trustworthiness. You can use it in various contexts, such as describing a person's actions or a situation. For example: - The politician's scandalous behavior undermined his credibility with the public. - The conflicting statements made by the witness undermined their credibility in court. - The publication of false information in the newspaper undermined the credibility of the entire media outlet.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Showing customers or partners what's truly behind the curtain could undermine credibility and threaten the deal.

Harvard Business Review

Since trust is so fundamental to the relationship between leaders and their constituents, behaviors that suggest untrustworthiness quickly undermine credibility.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is difficult to conceive of a more effective way of setting out to undermine credibility in a government policy.

The Guardian

But AIG needs more cash to avoid a downgrade in its credit rating which would undermine credibility in its insurance.

The Guardian - Business

Bear in mind that this is a campus where one student leader asked to speak off the record in response to the question "Are you a football fan?," fearing that anything short of a resounding yes would undermine credibility.

The New Yorker

I'm being a bit flip here, but as I read this we start with a credibility argument; when there turns out to be an easy way to deal with that problem, it's rejected because that would undermine credibility.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The lack of a credible complaint also undermines credibility in the government's commitment to the remedies it achieves.

Forbes

It would also undermine American credibility.

The New Yorker

They will undermine your credibility too.

The Guardian

A referendum commitment would undermine its credibility.

The Guardian - Opinion

You write, "Fake reviews undermine the credibility of the Internet".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undermine credibility", ensure the subject and object are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. State explicitly who or what is losing credibility and what is causing the loss.

Common error

Avoid using "undermine credibility" when the situation only involves minor doubts or questions. Reserve it for situations where there's a significant loss of trust or believability, so consider words like "raise concerns" or "prompt questions" for smaller impacts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine credibility" functions as a verb phrase + noun, typically used as a predicate to describe actions or situations that negatively affect someone's or something's trustworthiness. Ludwig examples show its application across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undermine credibility" is a commonly used expression to describe the weakening or damaging of someone's trustworthiness. Ludwig AI confirms it as grammatically correct and appropriate across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academia. While alternatives like "damage reputation" or "erode trust" exist, "undermine credibility" specifically emphasizes the loss of believability. When using the phrase, it's crucial to clearly identify the subject experiencing the credibility loss and the cause behind it. Avoid overstating its impact in situations where only minor doubts are present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

damage reputation

Focuses on the negative impact on someone's reputation rather than specifically their credibility.

erode trust

Emphasizes the gradual destruction of trust, a key component of credibility.

weaken believability

Highlights the reduction in how believable someone or something is.

compromise integrity

Suggests a moral or ethical failing that reduces credibility.

cast doubt on

Focuses on creating uncertainty about someone's claims or character.

discredit someone

Directly aims to make someone appear untrustworthy or unreliable.

impair standing

Highlights the negative effect on someone's position or status.

detract from validity

Focuses on reducing the perceived truth or accuracy of something.

sabotage reliability

Suggests intentional action to undermine someone's dependability.

jeopardize confidence

Emphasizes the risk of losing confidence in someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "undermine credibility" in a sentence?

Use "undermine credibility" to describe actions or events that weaken someone's trustworthiness. For example, "The politician's lies undermined his credibility with voters."

What are some alternatives to "undermine credibility"?

You can use alternatives such as "damage reputation", "erode trust", or "weaken believability" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "undermine credibility" and "damage reputation"?

"Undermine credibility" focuses on eroding trust and believability, while "damage reputation" /s/damage+reputation refers more broadly to harming someone's overall public image. Credibility is a key component of reputation.

Is it better to say "undermine credibility" or "erode credibility"?

Both "undermine credibility" and "erode credibility" are correct. "Undermine" suggests a more active or direct action, while "erode" implies a gradual weakening.