countermine
Undermine the underminer
A countermine is a mine dug to intercept or destroy an enemy's mine—whether underground tunnels in siege warfare or explosive devices in modern combat.
The verb means to defeat by countermining, or more broadly, to frustrate someone's plans through opposing action: They countermined every attempt to pass the legislation.
Weaken by stealth
- subvertSecretly weaken authority
- destabilizeMake unsteady or insecure
- disruptInterrupt and disorder
- obstructBlock or hinder passage
thwart · foil · hamper · hinder · impede · frustrate · compromise · disable
Defense against a threat
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- thwartPrevent success of
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- preemptionActing to prevent another's action
interdiction · feint · gambit · tactics · maneuver · disruption · diversion · planning
Remove capacity to harm
- deactivateTurn off or neutralize
- defuseRender harmless
- bomb squadExplosive ordnance responders
- EODWorkday cutoff acronym
demining · clearance · booby trap · tripwire · ordnance · neutralize · probing · flail
Digging underground passages
- sappingGradually draining vitality
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- breachingBreaking through something
- galleriesSpaces for displaying art
trenches · fortification · entrenchment · earthworks · demining · explosives · reconnaissance · ambush
Defense against enemy espionage
- counterespionageBlocking enemy surveillance efforts
- double agentSpy betraying their side
- mole huntSearch for internal spy
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
surveillance · deception · covert · clandestine · spycraft · intelligence · reconnaissance · disinformation
undermine
Weaken by stealth
- subvertSecretly weaken authority
- destabilizeMake unsteady or insecure
- disruptInterrupt and disorder
obstruct · thwart · foil · hamper · hinder · impede · frustrate · compromise · disable · cripple
countermeasure
Defense against a threat
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- thwartPrevent success of
- anticipationState of awaiting something
preemption · interdiction · feint · gambit · tactics · maneuver · disruption · diversion · planning · foresight
disarm
Remove capacity to harm
- deactivateTurn off or neutralize
- defuseRender harmless
- bomb squadExplosive ordnance responders
EOD · demining · clearance · booby trap · tripwire · ordnance · neutralize · probing · flail · disposal
tunneling
Digging underground passages
- sappingGradually draining vitality
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- breachingBreaking through something
galleries · trenches · fortification · entrenchment · earthworks · demining · explosives · reconnaissance · ambush · camouflage
counterintelligence
Defense against enemy espionage
- counterespionageBlocking enemy surveillance efforts
- double agentSpy betraying their side
- mole huntSearch for internal spy
infiltration · surveillance · deception · covert · clandestine · spycraft · intelligence · reconnaissance · disinformation · tradecraft
- siegessiege, siege tower, siege engine, siege engines, siege warfare
- military engineeringengineers, combat engineer, combat engineers, sappers, sapper