undermine feelings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine feelings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or behaviors that negatively affect someone's emotions or emotional state. Example: "His constant criticism seemed to undermine her feelings of self-worth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review

Huffington Post

Cancer

BMC Public Health

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These changes can undermine feelings of trust and closeness within the family and hobble critical supportive processes (Beardslee et al. 2007; Riley et al. 2008; Walsh 2006).

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Studies show that people with negative self-views tend to be attracted to partners who mistreat them and undermine their feelings of self-worth.

Huffington Post

Portman's comment speaks to a long history of specific terms like "crazy" or "hysterical" being used to write women off and undermine their feelings and actions.

Huffington Post

Failure to evince these qualities can undermine patients' feelings of safety and comfort, threatening optimal therapeutic effectiveness.

Cancer

In terms of theories of stressful experience, these threats to occupational status affect workers mental and physical health as they undermine essential feelings of continued control and reward at work [ 21].

BMC Public Health

And I wanted people to reinforce — not undermine — that feeling.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It is always unfortunate that this small minority that I keep saying are available to derail or undermine national feeling," General Musharraf said.

The New York Times

A steady succession of arrests of people suspected of being terrorist plotters, and the ensuing trials, had buttressed public confidence, but Wednesday's killing threatened to undermine that feeling, if not shatter it.

The New York Times

Alas, the accents of its mostly British cast tend to undermine the feeling of authenticity — a problem alleviated by the addition of Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep's daughter, as an American heiress, and the French actress Jenna Thiam as the working-class daughter of Sabine's chief seamstress who unexpectedly becomes the face of the fashion house.

The New York Times

"We... made a few changes aimed at productivity and efficiency that undermined the feeling of ownership some of you have for your business," he wrote.

BBC

She perceived a need for continued commitment to management and feared that this commitment could be undermined by "feeling a little bit better" as a result of yoga.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics, use "undermine feelings" to delicately describe how actions or words can negatively impact someone's emotional state without directly accusing anyone of intentional harm.

Common error

While "undermine feelings" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing where stronger, more precise verbs like "damage", "erode", or "weaken" might be more impactful. Consider the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine feelings" functions as a verb phrase where "undermine" acts as a transitive verb taking "feelings" as its direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. It describes the action of weakening or damaging someone's emotional state.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "undermine feelings" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the act of weakening or damaging someone's emotional state. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears in various contexts, including news, scientific articles, and everyday conversations. While acceptable in most situations, consider using more precise synonyms like "damage", "erode", or "weaken" in highly formal contexts. Understanding its subtle difference from "hurt feelings" – a gradual erosion versus immediate emotional injury – can enhance the accuracy of your writing. Remember to avoid overusing this phrase and consider the specific nuance you wish to convey for impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erode emotions

Replaces "feelings" with "emotions", which is a direct synonym, and "undermine" with "erode" focusing on gradual damage.

weaken sentiments

Substitutes "feelings" with "sentiments", a more formal synonym, and "undermine" with "weaken", emphasizing a reduction in strength.

damage emotions

Replaces "undermine" with "damage", indicating direct harm to the emotions.

erode trust

Focuses on the erosion of trust, a specific type of feeling or belief.

sap confidence

Replaces "undermine feelings" with the idiom "sap confidence", emphasizing the depletion of self-assurance.

diminish morale

Focuses on reducing morale, especially in a group context.

shake faith

Emphasizes the weakening of faith or belief.

subvert emotions

Uses "subvert" instead of "undermine", suggesting a more intentional or forceful weakening of emotions.

destabilize emotions

Emphasizes the loss of emotional stability.

challenge beliefs

Focuses on challenging the foundation of beliefs, potentially leading to undermined feelings.

FAQs

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

You can use "undermine feelings" to describe situations where actions or words negatively affect someone's emotional state. For example: "His constant criticism seemed to "undermine feelings" of self-worth."

What are some alternatives to "undermine feelings"?

Alternatives include "erode emotions", "weaken sentiments", or "damage emotions", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "undermine someone's feelings"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "undermine someone's feelings". It accurately describes the action of weakening or negatively affecting their emotions.

What is the difference between "undermine feelings" and "hurt feelings"?

"Undermine feelings" suggests a gradual weakening or erosion of emotions, while "hurt feelings" implies a more direct and immediate emotional injury.