undermined yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermined yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or behaviors that have negatively impacted one's own position, confidence, or credibility. Example: "By not preparing for the presentation, you have undermined yourself in front of your colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Jeff, I admire your honesty, but you've really undermined yourself here.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

These days, autoimmune diseases were the most sophisticated way to undermine yourself, to be your own worst enemy.

The New Yorker

Undermining yourself stops the natural flow of your creativity.

Huffington Post

There's no reason in the world you should undermine yourself.

Huffington Post

No matter how naughty and challenging your child's behavior might be, Santa is going to come to them and as such, you are undermining yourself by issuing empty threats that further arouse your child with anxiety when they hear it.

Huffington Post

You can be polite without undermining yourself.

WikiHow

This might sound trite but don't undermine yourself by pretending not to be good academically when you are.

WikiHow

When your attention goes to the noise your best intentions for yourself are undermined.

Huffington Post

You may be ridiculed or otherwise undermined and should prepare yourself for this fact.

WikiHow

Glee's laudable message of diversity, being happy with yourself and embracing difference is undermined by these images.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

That undermined her faith.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "undermined yourself" when you want to emphasize that someone's own actions or words have weakened their position or credibility. Consider the context to determine if a more specific alternative might be more impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "undermined yourself" when the weakening is caused by external factors. The phrase implies self-sabotage, not being undermined by others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermined yourself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject's actions have negatively impacted the subject itself. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where honesty or actions have backfired.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undermined yourself" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that describes a situation where someone's own actions or words have weakened their position, credibility, or success. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Wiki contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the weakening is indeed self-inflicted and not due to external factors. Alternatives like "sabotaged your own efforts" or "weakened your position" can provide slightly different nuances depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sabotaged your own efforts

Emphasizes intentional or unintentional actions that directly hinder progress.

weakened your position

Focuses on the reduction of influence or strength in a competitive context.

shot yourself in the foot

An idiomatic expression indicating a self-inflicted setback.

compromised your integrity

Highlights damage to one's moral principles or trustworthiness.

damaged your credibility

Focuses on the loss of believability or trustworthiness.

hurt your chances

Indicates a reduction in the likelihood of success or achieving a goal.

lessened your impact

Emphasizes the reduction of influence or effectiveness.

did yourself a disservice

Highlights actions that are detrimental to one's own interests or reputation.

undercut your authority

Focuses on diminishing one's power or control.

jeopardized your standing

Emphasizes the risk or threat to one's reputation or social status.

FAQs

How can I use "undermined yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "undermined yourself" when someone's actions have weakened their own position. For example, "By not preparing adequately, you have undermined yourself in the negotiation."

What does it mean to have "undermined yourself"?

To have "undermined yourself" means that you have weakened your own position or credibility through your own actions or words.

What can I say instead of "undermined yourself"?

You can use alternatives like "sabotaged your own efforts", "weakened your position", or "shot yourself in the foot", depending on the context.

Is "undermined yourself" formal or informal?

The phrase "undermined yourself" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal settings might benefit from alternatives that are less idiomatic.