What does undermine mean?
Word: Undermine
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Undermine means to make something such as confidence or trust slowly less firm.
How do you spell undermine?
Syllables: un - der - mine
Tricky part: Some pupils hear the close of the word as mind and finish with a d. It has nothing to do with the mind.
Watch out for: undermind, undermin
Memory tip: Your mind plays no part here, so no d at the end.
Undermine in a sentence
Example 1: Arriving late every day can undermine a good first impression.
Example 2: Doubts about her own drawing began to undermine Rhea's confidence.
Example 3: Please do not undermine your sister by correcting her in front of her friends.
Fun Fact
It still has a literal sense too: the sea can undermine a cliff by slowly wearing away the rock at its base.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these compound words is spelt correctly. Choose it.
a) undergrouth
b) underneeth
c) undermine
d) underpas
Show answer
c) undermine. Undergrowth needs ow, underpass a double s and underneath ea, which leaves undermine.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
u_d_rm_ne
a) n, e, e
b) n, a, i
c) m, e, i
d) n, e, i
Show answer
d) n, e, i. Sound it out: the n you can hear, then the weak e, then the long i.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word:
Rumours can slowly meiudnner the trust between old friends.
a) determine
b) undertake
c) undermine
d) underline
Show answer
c) undermine. Two n's and an m with no l or k: underline has an l, undertake a k and determine no u.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word undermine as used in the sentence:
Skipping practice week after week will undermine all the progress the team has made.
a) damage
b) spoil
c) weaken
d) strengthen
Show answer
d) strengthen. To strengthen progress is to build it up, the reverse of what skipped practice does.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What would undermine a captain's authority?
a) players asking her for advice before a match
b) players openly ignoring the plan she gave them
c) players following her field changes at once
d) players cheering her after a fine catch
Show answer
b) players openly ignoring the plan she gave them
2. Riya's coach says late nights are undermining her training. What should she do?
a) buy a more expensive pair of running shoes
b) get to bed earlier so her body can recover
c) add a longer session late in the evening
d) eat her dinner closer to midnight each day
Show answer
b) get to bed earlier so her body can recover
