undermine
verb [ T ] uk/ˌʌn.dəˈmaɪn/ us/ˌʌn.dɚˈmaɪn/
C2 （常指逐渐地）削弱信心、权威等，损害
to make someone less confident, less powerful, or less likely to succeed, or to make something weaker, often gradually
The president has accused two cabinet members of working secretly to undermine his position/him. 总统指责有两位内阁部长在暗中算计他。
Criticism just undermines their confidence. 批评只是削弱了他们的信心。
- More examples
- A succession of scandals and revelations has undermined the government over the past year.
- Suddenly she just turned on me and accused me of undermining her.
- The country's economic position has been seriously undermined by this affair.
- He's been trying to undermine her position by spreading rumours about her.
- If you continually criticize children you can seriously undermine their confidence.