undermine efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine efforts" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions or behaviors that weaken or sabotage attempts to achieve a goal. Example: "His constant criticism seemed to undermine efforts to improve team morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

This would "significantly undermine" efforts to keep firearms out of dangerous hands, gun control advocates say.

HuffPost

Empowering Sunni forces may undermine efforts toward national reconciliation, however.

The New Yorker

They also undermine efforts to prevent further atrocities in Britain.

The Guardian - Opinion

Any future scandals would undermine efforts to kill it.

The Washington Post

But the investigative commission's hearings could undermine efforts to restart more reactors.

The New York Times

They fear that Malcolm X's example will undermine efforts to "detransnationalize" Muslim youth.

The New Yorker

The move, she says, may undermine efforts on the recruitment and retention of social workers.

The Guardian

That would undermine efforts to stop Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters from escaping from Afghanistan.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

In the long-term, therefore land shortages might undermine efforts to achieve the levels of production that are needed if the demand is to be met.

Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

Charging anything less will severely undermine efforts to sustain toilet infrastructure.

Huffington Post

Such tendencies might undermine efforts to teach how science works or even to show how judgments in science may be biased by prior beliefs.

International Journal of STEM Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undermine efforts", ensure that the subject performing the undermining action is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Lack of funding can undermine efforts to improve education."

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences in the passive voice when using "undermine efforts". Instead of saying "Efforts were undermined by…", opt for the active voice: "The policy undermined efforts…" This makes the sentence more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine efforts" functions as a verb phrase, where "undermine" acts as a transitive verb taking "efforts" as its direct object. This indicates an action that weakens or diminishes the effectiveness of something. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "undermine efforts" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys the weakening or sabotaging of actions intended to achieve a specific goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and appropriate in various contexts. It is most commonly found in news and media, scientific writing and formal business communication. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by identifying the undermining agent and consider active voice for a more impactful statement. While there are several alternatives such as "sabotage attempts" and "weaken initiatives", the original phrase maintains a versatile and effective way to communicate potential setbacks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sabotage attempts

Replaces "undermine" with a stronger verb, suggesting deliberate obstruction.

weaken initiatives

Uses a more general term than "efforts", broadening the scope of the phrase.

hinder progress

Focuses on the effect on progress rather than the efforts themselves.

impede endeavors

Employs more formal vocabulary, suitable for academic or professional contexts.

thwart attempts

Indicates a successful prevention of efforts from succeeding.

compromise endeavors

Suggests a partial failure of efforts, rather than complete undermining.

jeopardize initiatives

Highlights the risk or danger posed to the success of initiatives.

erode progress

Suggests a gradual weakening of progress over time.

disrupt initiatives

Focuses on the disturbance or interruption of initiatives.

derail attempts

Implies a more sudden and forceful stop to attempts.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence using "undermine efforts"?

You can use alternatives like "sabotage attempts", "weaken initiatives", or "hinder progress" depending on the context.

What does "undermine efforts" mean?

The phrase "undermine efforts" means to weaken, sabotage, or diminish the effectiveness of actions taken to achieve a specific goal. It suggests that something is hindering or detracting from the success of these actions.

Is it better to use "undermine efforts" or "impede progress"?

Both "undermine efforts" and "impede progress" are valid, but they have slightly different nuances. "Undermine efforts" focuses on weakening the specific actions taken, while "impede progress" focuses on slowing down or obstructing the overall advancement toward a goal.

Can you provide an example sentence using "undermine efforts"?

Sure, here's an example: "His constant criticism seemed to undermine efforts to improve team morale."