undermine unity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine unity" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where actions or behaviors are weakening or damaging a sense of togetherness or cohesion. For example, "His constant criticism seemed to undermine unity within the team." Alternative expressions include "erode cohesion" and "weaken solidarity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A rise in factional politics and greater differences of opinion among a new (and weaker) generation of leaders might also undermine unity at the centre.

The Economist

The law, issued this week by the president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, permits courts to hand down life sentences to anyone judged to be using funding or weapons from overseas to undermine unity.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's also a material obstacle for those committed to progressive change, undermining unity against our common enemies.

The Guardian - Opinion

The men, who used Twitter to promote human rights, were found guilty by a court of "breaking allegiance and disobeying the ruler", "undermining unity", "questioning the integrity of officials", "seeking to disrupt security" and "inciting disorder by calling for demonstrations".

BBC

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin said "some influential members" were undermining unity and calling for regime change.

HuffPost

Follow ZeeshAnumberm of Twitter.

Vice

The supporters of this contract have been undermining unity, from what I noticed personally at meetings, starting six months prior to the beginning of the negotiation process.

Huffington Post

During a speech he made to mark the day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said: "No one would ever be able to undermine our unity".

Vice

"I will in the coming days deal with what I see as an inexplicable attempt to undermine the unity of my family, the legacy of Nelson Mandela and the high regard with which the name Mandela is held here and across the globe".

Independent

"It could undermine the unity in major decisions like going to peace talks.

The Guardian

Discrimination against or oppression of any ethnic group, and acts which undermine ethnic unity or instigates division, are prohibited.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing political situations, use "undermine unity" to describe actions that weaken a group's collective strength or shared goals.

Common error

Avoid using "undermine unity" when you simply mean disagreement. "Undermine unity" implies active weakening, not just differing opinions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine unity" functions as a verb phrase. It typically describes an action (undermine) that negatively impacts a state or quality (unity). As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and serves to express a specific relational context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "undermine unity" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes actions that weaken cohesion within a group, organization, or nation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, especially in News & Media. While alternatives like "weaken cohesion" or "disrupt solidarity" can be used depending on the context, it's crucial to ensure the intended meaning aligns with the specific nuance each alternative provides. Using "undermine unity" effectively involves understanding its scope and applying it accurately to actions causing a genuine weakening of togetherness, not just expressing disagreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weaken cohesion

This alternative uses "cohesion" instead of "unity", emphasizing the act of loosening the bonds within a group.

disrupt solidarity

This alternative replaces "unity" with "solidarity", highlighting the act of breaking a unified front or shared purpose.

erode harmony

Using "erode" and "harmony" shifts the focus to a gradual wearing away of peaceful agreement.

threaten accord

Replaces "undermine" with "threaten" and "unity" with "accord", indicating a risk to agreement.

destabilize alliance

This alternative focuses on disrupting a formal agreement or partnership.

fracture togetherness

This alternative vividly suggests breaking the state of being united.

sap cohesion

Using "sap" indicates a gradual depletion of the forces holding a group together.

damage collaboration

This alternative emphasizes harm to cooperative efforts.

impair consensus

Focuses on hindering agreement or shared opinion.

sabotage accord

Replaces "undermine" with "sabotage", suggesting a deliberate act to ruin the accord

FAQs

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

You can use "undermine unity" to describe actions that weaken a group's togetherness, for example: "His constant criticism seemed to "undermine unity" within the team".

What's the difference between ""undermine unity"" and "erode cohesion"?

"Undermine unity" suggests a more active process of weakening, while "erode cohesion" implies a gradual wearing away.

What can I say instead of ""undermine unity""?

You can use alternatives like "weaken cohesion", "disrupt solidarity", or "erode harmony" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "undermines unity"?

Yes, "undermines unity" is correct when the subject is singular or non-plural third-person. For example, "His behavior undermines unity."