undermine success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine success" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when referencing someone's or something's efforts being hindered or thwarted in some way. For example: "John's lack of commitment to the project threatened to undermine success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

However, delegating the data interpretation to an outside consultant or even just a subset of the team can undermine success.

Harvard Business Review

We also talk about teaching that raises achievement and builds personal agency, peer dynamics that support rather than undermine success, community-level leadership and engaging the business community.

Harvard University

That is, too much self-interest tends to undermine success.

HuffPost

Global economic factors and other policy considerations continuously impact public sector funding, especially in LMICs (64, 65), and must always be taken into account as possible factors that could undermine success of such trials.

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Additionally, we must reject overly deterministic attitudes about the roles of structure, culture, and agency in promoting or undermining success.

Harvard University

Leadership trainings that teach people what to do and how to do it often fail to address the subtle but important factors that undermine confidence and resilience – specifically, negative self-talk, the voice of the Inner Critic, which generates insecurity, doubt, stress and fear, inhibiting productive actions undermining success.

Huffington Post

Far from seeking to undermine the success of those at the top, unions simply insist that that success be shared.

HuffPost

"We have a rich tradition of success, but we are reevaluating our approach to mentoring and what factors might undermine student success".

Science Magazine

The stanza tells us that the persuasion was successful, but at the same time the hesitant words undermine this success.

BMC Family Practice

Cooperatives, however, face a number of internal and external threats that can undermine their success and existence.

Marine Policy

When used by a divided Republican majority, however, reconciliation helped to undermine GOP success.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternative phrases like "jeopardize success" or "hinder success" to fine-tune the nuance of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "undermine success" as a vague generalization. Always provide specific details about what is causing the undermining effect and how it manifests.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine success" functions as a verb phrase where "undermine" is the verb and "success" is the noun acting as the object. It describes the action of weakening or diminishing the likelihood of achieving a positive result. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undermine success" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe actions or factors that weaken or jeopardize the achievement of a desired outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, its application spans various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science, suggesting a broad applicability. While alternatives like "jeopardize success" or "hinder success" exist to offer nuanced meanings, the core concept remains consistent: identifying and addressing potential threats to positive outcomes. Using this phrase effectively involves specifying the undermining factor to provide clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

jeopardize success

Emphasizes the risk of failure or damage to success.

hinder success

Focuses on the act of making success more difficult to achieve.

impair success

Highlights the weakening or damaging effect on success.

sabotage success

Suggests a deliberate action aimed at destroying success.

threaten success

Indicates a potential danger or risk to success.

derail success

Implies causing success to go off track or fail to reach its intended destination.

compromise success

Suggests a weakening or making vulnerable the state of success.

weaken success

Directly indicates a reduction in the strength or effectiveness of success.

diminish prospects for success

Emphasizes reducing the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

erode chances of success

Focuses on the gradual destruction of the opportunities for success.

FAQs

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

You can use "undermine success" to describe something that weakens or damages the chances of achieving a desired outcome. For instance, "Poor communication can undermine success of a project."

What are some alternatives to "undermine success"?

Alternatives include "jeopardize success", "hinder success", or "impair success", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "undermine success" or "undermine the success"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "undermine the success" is often preferred when referring to a specific, already-defined instance of success. "Undermine success" is more general.

What factors typically "undermine success" in a team project?

Common factors that can "undermine success" in a team project include poor communication, lack of clear goals, conflicting priorities, and insufficient resources.