undermines the intention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermines the intention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions or statements that weaken or contradict a specific purpose or goal. Example: "His comments during the meeting undermines the intention of our collaborative efforts to improve team dynamics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"This exception undermines the intention of the air rights transfers for historic properties," Mr. Hoylman said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As an industry that specialises in undermining the intention of democratic legislation and in shifting the tax liabilities of the wealthy on to the rest of us instead, its plea to the government to "be fair" sounds like the whine of a spoilt child.

The Guardian

This dearth of readily accessible information has the potential to undermine the intention of decision-makers to use evidence in policy development and must be addressed.

Human Resources for Health

California, Wisconsin and Illinois have joined 12 mostly Northeastern states in challenging the federal government's proposal to modify regulations over power plant emissions saying they undermine the intentions of the Clean Air Act.

The New York Times

In carrying through this appointment, Trump was not only circumventing the order of succession laid out in the law creating the CFPB, he was also undermining the explicit intention of Congress for the CFPB to be an independent bureau.

Huffington Post

Stopping early for futility undermines the best of intentions.

Critical Care

But the region's complexities have a way of undermining the best intentions.

The Economist

We deeply regret the possibility that these columns may undermine the good intentions and the good work of the education leaders who took part in these important professional exchanges.

The New York Times

"The failure to stop abuses and possible war crimes by volunteer battalions risks significantly aggravating tensions in the east of the country and undermining the proclaimed intentions of the new Ukrainian authorities to strengthen and uphold the rule of law more broadly," said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International secretary general, in Kiev.

The Guardian

They then undermined this intention by "reminding" me that they provide a pro-bono service to my organisation, Bond (which, incidentally, nobody seems to know anything about; the threat of removal of a service we don't even know about made me smile).

The Guardian

Black allows the opponent to expand in the center with the intention of undermining it by pressure from the flanks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs if you want to convey a more forceful negation of the intention; otherwise, "undermines" suggests a gradual weakening.

Common error

Avoid passively stating that "the intention was undermined" without specifying what or who caused the undermining. Clarity is key to effective communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermines the intention" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "undermines" is the verb and "the intention" serves as the direct object. It indicates an action that weakens or subverts a particular purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undermines the intention" is a versatile expression used to describe actions or events that weaken or subvert a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. Grammatically functioning as a verb phrase, it commonly appears in news, scientific, and formal contexts, often expressing criticism or concern. When employing this phrase, ensure the undermining agent is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. Alternative expressions like "nullifies the purpose" or "compromises the goal" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nullifies the purpose

Replaces 'undermines' with 'nullifies', indicating a complete cancellation of the purpose.

invalidates the aim

Substitutes 'undermines' with 'invalidates' and 'intention' with 'aim', suggesting the goal is no longer valid.

defeats the object

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey that the intended outcome is thwarted.

thwarts the objective

Replaces 'undermines' with 'thwarts' and 'intention' with 'objective', implying active prevention of the goal.

compromises the goal

Indicates that the intention is weakened or put at risk, rather than completely negated.

weakens the resolve

Focuses on diminishing the determination or firmness of purpose.

counteracts the design

Emphasizes the opposition to a plan or deliberate effort.

negates the plan

Highlights that the plan is rendered ineffective or non-existent.

subverts the purpose

Implies a more insidious or subversive action against the intention.

vitiates the effect

Suggests the action reduces the quality or effectiveness of the original intention.

FAQs

What does "undermines the intention" mean?

It means to weaken, sabotage, or diminish the purpose or goal that someone has in mind.

What can I say instead of "undermines the intention"?

You can use alternatives like "nullifies the purpose", "compromises the goal", or "defeats the object" depending on the context.

How to use "undermines the intention" in a sentence?

For example: "His comments during the meeting undermines the intention of our collaborative efforts to improve team dynamics."

Is "undermines the intention" formal or informal?

It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is generally more common in neutral to formal writing. Use it in professional and academic communication where appropriate.