undermine the need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine the need" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing how something may weaken or diminish the necessity for something else. Example: "The new policy may undermine the need for additional funding in the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Most probably it will remain a mess for many years, but it doesn't undermine the need to help.

The Guardian

Contrary to your view, Israel's refusal to participate in this charade will not undermine the need for universal standards and nudging countries to make changes.

The New York Times

The great dynastic houses are weakened, and petty fights for the throne undermine the need for a united defence against the looming enemy beyond the Wall.

BBC

Most meetings reinforce the silos that already exist, prove that leaders aren't listening enough, and undermine the need to create high-performance teams and workplace cultures.

Forbes

The principal challenge for such theories is to explicate this normative notion in a non-circular way that does not undermine the need for a response-dependent theory in the first place.

SEP

Martin's further research focuses on the history of torture in early modern Italy, a topic he is pursuing through a study of Francesco Casoni, a provincial intellectual, whose writings on evidence and the art of conjecture did much to undermine the need for the use of torture in the courts of Europe in the early modern period.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In one of the letters that they sent to every member of the House of Representatives (in this case, May 8 , 2012, the bishops declared that "deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility efforts must protect and not undermine the needs of poor and vulnerable people," and they concluded that "the proposed cuts to programs in the budget reconciliation fail this basic moral test".

Huffington Post

This may undermine the needed systemic HRH development.

BMJ Open

Others were paid at a fraction of the minimum wage, their meager pay reduced further by charges for food, accommodation, and "managerial fees". Some international donors have funded the training of center staff in drug dependency treatment, thus undermining the need to end this abusive system.

Stanford University

Yet recent order-of-magnitude improvements in LAN performance have narrowed the bandwidth gap between SANs and LANs, undermining the need for a separate SAN.

Duke University

Campaigners argued that a separate plant treating biological waste was being built near Cheltenham and undermined the need for an incinerator.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undermine the need", ensure the context clearly indicates what is diminishing the necessity of something. For example, 'Technological advancements can undermine the need for manual labor in many industries.'

Common error

Avoid using "undermine the need" when you actually mean 'eliminate the possibility.' "Undermine" suggests a weakening, not a complete removal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine the need" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate that something weakens or reduces the necessity of something else. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undermine the need" is a grammatically correct expression that conveys a weakening or reduction in the necessity of something, as verified by Ludwig AI. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various reputable sources, including news outlets, scientific publications, and academic papers. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly establishes what is diminishing the original need, and consider alternatives like "lessen the requirement" or "reduce the necessity" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lessen the requirement

Focuses on diminishing the mandatory aspect.

reduce the necessity

Emphasizes decreasing the essential nature of something.

diminish the demand

Highlights a decrease in what is requested or needed.

weaken the imperative

Suggests a reduction in the urgency or importance.

erode the importance

Focuses on the gradual loss of significance.

detract from the urgency

Highlights a reduction in the pressing nature of something.

invalidate the justification

Challenges the reasons or basis for needing something.

make less critical

Focuses on reducing the criticality of something.

obviate the requirement

Highlights the removal of a specific need or condition.

supersede the necessity

Suggests replacing the existing need with something new.

FAQs

How can I use "undermine the need" in a sentence?

You can use "undermine the need" to describe situations where something reduces or weakens the necessity for something else. For example, 'The success of the pilot program may "undermine the need" for additional funding'.

What are some alternatives to "undermine the need"?

Alternatives include "lessen the requirement", "reduce the necessity", or "diminish the demand", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "undermine the need" or "eliminate the need"?

"Undermine the need" suggests weakening or reducing the necessity, while "eliminate the need" implies complete removal. The choice depends on whether the need is partially or completely removed.

What's the difference between "undermine the need" and "reduce the need"?

"Reduce the need" generally means to decrease the amount or intensity required. "Undermine the need" implies that something else is making the original need less important or necessary.