undermine

Definition of Undermine in English :

destroy property or hinder normal operations

Example Sentences:
'The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war'

2. cave, undermine

hollow out as if making a cave or opening

Example Sentences:
'The river was caving the banks'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Undermine

verb (transitive)

1.

(of the sea, wind, etc) to wear away the bottom or base of (land, cliffs, etc)

2.

to weaken gradually or insidiously

the constant criticism undermined my confidence

3.

to tunnel or dig beneath

verb transitiveWord forms: ˌunderˈmined or ˌunderˈmining

1.

to dig beneath; excavate ground from under, so as to form a tunnel or mine

2.

to wear away and weaken the supports of

erosion is undermining the wall

3.

to injure, weaken, or impair, esp. by subtle, stealthy, or insidious means

tr.v. un·der·mined, un·der·min·ing, un·der·mines

1. To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation: Water has undermined the stone foundations.

2. To weaken, injure, or impair, often by degrees or imperceptibly; sap: Late hours can undermine one's health.

3. To dig a mine or tunnel beneath.