undermining
損なう
解説 Definition
undermining は undermine（損なう、弱める）の現在分詞・動名詞です。信頼、権威、計画、土台などを少しずつ傷つけたり弱くしたりする場面で使われます。
Undermining means gradually or indirectly weakening the strength, confidence, authority, stability, or effectiveness of someone or something. It is the present participle and gerund form of undermine and can describe an action currently producing harmful effects.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形 undermine の語末の黙字 e を取って -ing を付けた現在分詞・動名詞です。under「下」＋mine「坑道を掘る」から、見えない所で土台を削る像を核にします。undermining trust、confidence、authority のように、信頼や権威を徐々に弱める場合によく使います。
Undermining comes from undermine by dropping the final silent e and adding -ing. Divide it into under and mine, and picture someone digging beneath a wall until its foundation becomes unstable. The same image works figuratively: false reports may be undermining trust, rude comments may be undermining confidence, and poor decisions may be undermining a project. The word often suggests gradual, indirect damage rather than one sudden attack. Weakening is the broader term; undermining particularly evokes damage to the support, basis, or credibility on which something depends.
例文
The false report is undermining public trust.
その誤った報告は市民の信頼を損なっています。
His rude comments were undermining the team's confidence.
彼の失礼な発言はチームの自信を損なっていました。
Ignoring safety rules is undermining the success of the project.
安全規則を無視することが、そのプロジェクトの成功を損なっています。
undermining の類義語・関連語
undermining の語源・成り立ち Etymology
under（下から）+ mine（坑道を掘る）の組み合わせ。中世フランス語 miner（掘る）経由でラテン語 minare に遡る。関連語: mine, mineral。城壁の下を掘って崩す攻城術から「基盤を密かに弱体化させる」意味に発展した。
Undermine is built from under and mine, referring originally to digging beneath a wall or fortification in order to weaken its foundation. Mine in this sense reached English through French forms connected with excavation; its more remote history is not entirely certain. The military image later produced the figurative meaning of weakening a plan, authority, confidence, or trust. Undermining is formed by dropping the final e of undermine and adding -ing.
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