undermining

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "undermining" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a process that lessens or weakens the strength or effectiveness of something. For example: "His lack of confidence in the team was undermining their progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Without the full protection of the Clean Water Act, critical wetland habitats across the country will be degraded or destroyed, undermining the recovery of dozens of endangered species," Hartl wrote in a statement.

The Guardian

However, declining real wages have made consumers reluctant to borrow, undermining efforts to increase consumer spending.

The Guardian - Business

But after a clear defeat – 55.3% to 44.7% – the SNP had been thrown a lifeline within hours of the result, undermining the Labour party and highlighting a path to a second referendum.

The Guardian

Four years on, however, Laws, by then Gove's deputy, would publicly attack his boss for undermining the schools inspectorate, and a briefing war with Nick Clegg would turn the coalition's schools lunches policy into a dog's dinner.

The Guardian

The Times's report quotes media lawyer Caroline Kean, as saying that the use of the DPA is undermining increased protections that publishers won last year through reform of the UK's defamation law.

The Guardian

Turnbull replied that it was Jones who was undermining the Abbott government and "doing the work of the Labor party", a charge not usually levelled at the Sydney announcer who is an ardent supporter of the prime minister.

The Guardian

But the organisation has itself come under fire from critics who argue that it has forced countries such as Greece to adopt unsustainable debt repayment programmes, undermining their recovery.

The Guardian - Business

It was running a permanent occupation and undeniably undermining a two state solution.

The Guardian - Opinion

At Amorikot, the first head swiftly acquired a local reputation for corruption, seriously undermining the trust between teachers and parents that is critical when parents pay the teachers' salaries.

The Guardian

The writers objecting to an award to Charlie Hebdo (I admire Charlie Hebdo's courage. But it does not deserve a PEN award, theguardian.com, 28 April) are undermining the whole idea.

The Guardian

The coalition has little chance of making progress on the issue of EU immigration as the Liberal Democrats are firmly opposed to undermining free movement.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undermining", ensure the subject performing the undermining action is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid attributing the "undermining" effect to an incorrect source. Ensure a clear causal link between the action and the resulting weakening.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "undermining" is that of a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund, acting as a noun. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes an ongoing process of weakening something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "undermining" functions as a verb form, primarily a present participle or gerund, signifying the action of weakening or destabilizing something. As per Ludwig AI, its grammatical correctness is affirmed, and its prevalence is highlighted by its frequent appearance in diverse contexts, especially in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science domains. While alternatives like "weakening the foundation" or "eroding the credibility" exist, each conveys nuances that "undermining" may not fully capture. A key writing practice involves ensuring that the agent causing the "undermining" action is unambiguously identified, enhancing clarity and preventing misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weakening the foundation

Focuses on the gradual reduction of strength, specifically targeting the base or core.

eroding the credibility

Emphasizes the gradual destruction of trust or belief in something.

sabotaging the efforts

Highlights a deliberate act of hindering progress or causing failure.

diminishing the impact

Focuses on reducing the effect or significance of something.

subverting the authority

Emphasizes the act of challenging or overturning established power.

destabilizing the structure

Highlights the act of making something unsteady or prone to collapse.

crippling the effectiveness

Focuses on severely damaging or impairing the ability to function properly.

compromising the integrity

Emphasizes the act of damaging the honesty or moral principles of something.

neutralizing the threat

Highlights rendering something harmless or ineffective.

counteracting the measures

Focuses on taking action to prevent or reduce the effect of something.

FAQs

How can I use "undermining" in a sentence?

You can use "undermining" to describe actions that weaken or destabilize something. For example, "His constant criticism was "undermining" her confidence."

What are some alternatives to using "undermining"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "weakening", "eroding", or "sabotaging" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "undermining" or "undermined"?

The correct choice depends on the grammatical structure of your sentence. "Undermining" is a present participle or gerund, while "undermined" is a past participle or past tense verb. For example, "His actions are "undermining" the project", versus "The project was "undermined" by his actions."

What's the difference between "undermining" and "sabotaging"?

"Undermining" suggests a gradual weakening, while "sabotaging" implies a deliberate act to destroy or prevent success. "Undermining" can be unintentional, whereas sabotaging is almost always intentional.