Underminer: meaning, definitions and examples

An underminer is someone who subtly weakens or destabilizes a position, authority, or situation from within. This person often acts quietly and indirectly.

• Jane realized too late that her colleague was an underminer, constantly suggesting that she was not up to the job.
• His continuous doubts and snide comments were the tactics of an underminer, gradually eroding team morale.

A saboteur is someone who deliberately causes damage or destruction to hinder or obstruct a cause, effort, or operation. This term carries a strong negative connotation.

• The factory shut down for days because of a saboteur who tampered with the machinery.
• During wartime, saboteurs were often employed to disrupt enemy communications and supply lines.

A traitor is someone who betrays their country, cause, or trust by aiding an enemy or acting treacherously. This word has a very strong negative implication.

• Judas Iscariot is one of the most famous traitors in history for betraying Jesus.
• After selling secrets to the enemy, he was branded a traitor and faced severe punishment.

A mole is a person who is secretly working within an organization or group to gather and transmit information to an outside entity. This term is often used in espionage and intelligence contexts.

• The spy agency discovered a mole who had been leaking classified information for years.
• The company suffered a major data breach due to a mole in the IT department.

Used when someone is subtly trying to weaken the authority, confidence, or effectiveness of someone or something.

• She was an underminer at work, constantly spreading doubt about the manager's decisions

Used for someone who consistently discredits or devalues someone or something, often with the intent to diminish their reputation.

• Despite his many detractors, the author continued to publish bestsellers

Used when someone deliberately destroys, damages, or obstructs something, often in a secretive or deceptive way.

• The project was delayed because a saboteur had tampered with the machinery

Used when someone evaluates or judges the merits of something, often with an intention to improve or analyze it.

• The film critic gave a detailed review of the new movie, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses

Used to describe a person who deliberately weakens someone else's position or effort. Often seen in professional or competitive settings.

• The underminer in the team spread false information to make the leader look bad.
• He's known as an underminer because he constantly finds ways to discredit others.

Refers to actions or thoughts that prevent oneself from achieving goals or success. Frequently discussed in contexts of personal growth or performance.

• Procrastination is a form of self-sabotage.
• I realized I was engaging in self-sabotage by avoiding important tasks.

Describes actions that harm oneself physically or emotionally. Often used in discussions about mental health or harmful habits.

• His self-destructive behavior escalated when he started drinking heavily.
• Engaging in self-destructive behavior can be a cry for help.

Refers to the internal voice that judges and criticizes oneself. Commonly used in psychological or self-help discussions to describe a negative self-assessment.

• My inner critic always tells me I'm not good enough.
• She learned to silence her inner critic through therapy.