undermine him

USAGE SUMMARY

"undermine him" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you're trying to express that someone is working to weaken or damage someone else. For example, "John's colleagues plotted to undermine him and make him look bad in front of their boss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Or would that just undermine him more?

The New Yorker

I should strike back and try to undermine him.

The Guardian - Sport

The crumbling of elite support may have helped undermine him.

The New York Times

The parliamentary Labour party was trying to undermine him.

The Guardian

He has not one but two chairmen who appear keen to undermine him at every opportunity.

Independent

But the more success he had, the more resolved Ho was to undermine him.

The New York Times - Books

Even his own ministers, jostling for position as his successor, have begun to undermine him.

The Economist

Mr. Filin testified that he knew Mr. Dmitrichenko was working to undermine him.

The New York Times - Arts

But they now seem to be using a populist issue to undermine him.

The Economist

Mr Wickremesinghe, in turn, has complained that the president is trying to undermine him.

The Economist

Even as he spoke, congressional Republicans were doing their best to undermine him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undermine him", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific actions or strategies employed to weaken or subvert the individual in question. Provide concrete examples or details to strengthen your point.

Common error

Avoid using "undermine him" as a generic statement without providing specific examples of how the person is being undermined. Lack of context can weaken the impact of your writing and leave the reader confused.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine him" functions as a verb phrase where "undermine" is the verb and "him" is the object pronoun. It indicates an action taken to weaken or destabilize someone's position or authority. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undermine him" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe actions intended to weaken someone's position or authority. As Ludwig AI confirms, it frequently appears in news and media contexts. Related phrases include "weaken his authority" and "subvert his position". When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide specific context to illustrate how the person is being undermined. While versatile, its consistent negative connotation should be considered in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Undercut his influence

Implies subtly diminishing his power to affect decisions or actions.

Weaken his authority

Directly addresses the reduction of his power or control.

Diminish his credibility

Specifically targets the reduction of his believability or trustworthiness.

Subvert his position

Emphasizes an attempt to overthrow or destabilize his established role.

Erode his support

Suggests a gradual diminishing of the backing he receives from others.

Discredit him

Focuses on damaging his reputation and making him appear untrustworthy.

Sabotage his efforts

Focuses on the act of deliberately disrupting his actions, emphasizing a more direct form of obstruction.

Compromise his standing

Highlights the damage to his reputation or credibility.

Destabilize his leadership

Focuses on creating instability and uncertainty around his ability to lead.

Counteract his agenda

Addresses directly opposing his plans and objectives.

FAQs

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

You can use "undermine him" to describe actions that weaken someone's authority or position. For example, "His constant criticism was intended to undermine him".

What's a more formal alternative to "undermine him"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "weaken his authority" or "subvert his position", which may be more appropriate in academic or professional contexts.

Is it always negative to say someone is trying to "undermine him"?

Yes, using "undermine him" generally carries a negative connotation, implying a deliberate effort to weaken or damage someone's standing or effectiveness. It suggests a lack of directness or fairness in the opposition.

What's the difference between "undermine him" and "challenge him"?

"Challenge him" implies a direct and open confrontation or questioning of his ideas or authority, whereas "undermine him" suggests a more subtle, often indirect, attempt to weaken his position, possibly without his direct knowledge.