What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Undermine vs Usurp - What's the difference?

undermine | usurp |

As verbs the difference between undermine and usurp

is that undermine is to dig underneath (something), to make a passage or for destructive or military purposes; to sap while usurp is to seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.

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

    usurp

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.
  • To use and assume the coat of arms of another person.
  • (obsolete) To make use of.
  • * 1662 , , Appendix, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 149:
  • ""