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Contradict vs Undermine - What's the difference?

contradict | undermine |

As verbs the difference between contradict and undermine

is that contradict is (obsolete) to speak against; to forbid while undermine is to dig underneath (something), to make a passage or for destructive or military purposes; to sap.

contradict

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (obsolete) To speak against; to forbid.
  • *, New York 2001, p. 203:
    • magic hath been publically professed in former times, in Salamanca, Cracovia, and other places, though after censured by several universities, and now generally contradicted , though practised by some still […].
  • To deny the truth of (a statement or statements).
    • His testimony contradicts hers.
  • To make a statement denying the truth of the statement(s) made by (a person).
    • Everything he says contradicts me.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself, / And say it is not so.
  • * Wordsworth
    • The future cannot contradict the past.
  • To be contrary to; to oppose; to resist.
  • * Hooker
    • No truth can contradict another truth.
  • * Shakespeare
    • A greater power than we can contradict / Hath thwarted our intents.

    Synonyms

    * (l) * (l) * disconfirm * deny * dispute * question * gainsay * refute * controvert * dispute

    See also

    * gainsay

    undermine

    English

    Verb

    (undermin)
  • To dig underneath (something), to make a passage or for destructive or military purposes; to sap.
  • * 2009 , (Diarmaid MacCulloch), A History of Christianity , Penguin 2010, p. 312:
    • Martin, for instance, had on one occasion undermined a tree sacred to old gods, then stood in the path of its fall, but forced it to fall elsewhere by making the sign of the Cross.
  • (figuratively) To weaken or work against; to hinder, sabotage.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=April 19, author=Josh Halliday, work=the Guardian
    • , title= Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised? , passage=The growing use of social media to spread anger and dissent in the Arab world has been hailed by western governments as one of the chief justifications for a completely unfettered internet. The US is reportedly funding the secret rollout of technology in Iran in an effort to undermine internet censors in the country.}}

    Antonyms

    * undergird

    External links

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