undermined
Eroded from beneath
Undermined is the past tense of undermine, which originally meant to dig beneath something to weaken its foundation or cause it to collapse.
This concrete sense extends to figurative uses describing gradual weakening or sabotage of abstract things like authority, confidence, or efforts.
Her constant criticism undermined his self-esteem.
The scandal undermined public trust in the institution.
Something undermined has been damaged or weakened, often subtly or over time rather than through direct attack.
Made vulnerable to harm
- diminishedMade or became smaller
- erodedGradually degraded by elements
- damagedMade worse by injury
- impairedWeakened in function
destabilized · shaken · hollowed out · degraded · corroded · sapped · depleted · undercut
Proven unworthy of trust
- delegitimizedMade to seem illegitimate
- contradictedOpposed a statement
- questionedAsked for information
- challengedDisputed or questioned
second-guessed · invalidated · refuted · disputed · disproven · exposed · embarrassed · humiliated
Breaking of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- saboteurOne who deliberately undermines
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
conspiracy · wrecking · subterfuge · interference · obstruction · tampering · destabilization · cyberattack
Act of unearthing
- tunnelingDigging underground passages
- foundation damageHarm to building base
- structural collapseFramework giving way
- subsidenceGradual ground sinking
sapping · seepage · groundwater · cave-in · hollowing · burrowing · trench warfare · embankment
compromised
Made vulnerable to harm
- diminishedMade or became smaller
- erodedGradually degraded by elements
- damagedMade worse by injury
impaired · destabilized · shaken · hollowed out · degraded · corroded · sapped · depleted · undercut · crippled
discredited
Proven unworthy of trust
- delegitimizedMade to seem illegitimate
- contradictedOpposed a statement
- questionedAsked for information
challenged · second-guessed · invalidated · refuted · disputed · disproven · exposed · embarrassed · humiliated
betrayal
Breaking of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- saboteurOne who deliberately undermines
disruption · conspiracy · wrecking · subterfuge · interference · obstruction · tampering · destabilization · cyberattack · infiltration
excavation
Act of unearthing
- tunnelingDigging underground passages
- foundation damageHarm to building base
- structural collapseFramework giving way
subsidence · sapping · seepage · groundwater · cave-in · hollowing · burrowing · trench warfare · embankment · retaining wall
- vulnerabilityvulnerability, vulnerable, defenselessness, defenseless, helplessness
- wrongedabused, mistreated, victimized, exploited, oppressed
- exhaustedtired, weary, exhausted, drained, fatigued
- humiliationashamed, abasement, embarrassed, chagrin, mortified
- offendedoffended, insulted, slighted, affronted, indignant
- botchedbotched, bungled, messed up, screwed up, fouled up
underminedreinforced
Made more resistant
strengthened · bolstered · fortified · shored up · buttressed
underminedbolstered
Strengthened or supported
supported · strengthened · reinforced · validated · upheld
underminedbolstered
Strengthened or supported
strengthened · boosted · buoyed · encouraged · emboldened