undercut; undercutting
Synonyms of undercutnext

transitive verb

1
: to cut away the underpart of
undercut a vein of ore
2
: to cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief
3
: to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than (a competitor)
4
: to cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall
5
: to strike (a ball) with a downward glancing blow so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot
6
: to undermine or destroy the force, value, or effectiveness of
inflation undercuts consumer buying power

intransitive verb

: to perform the action of cutting away beneath
1
British : tenderloin sense 1
2
: the action or result of cutting away from the underside or lower part of something
3
: a notch cut in the base of a tree before felling to determine the direction of falling and to prevent splitting

Examples of undercut in a Sentence

Verb They undercut the competing store by 10 percent. a law that undercuts the Constitution Her behavior undercuts her own credibility.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
In the three years since, the Court has delivered even more wins for the movement—rulings undercutting the rights of trans people and immigrants, vitiating the Voting Rights Act, and expanding Presidential power. Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 If Washington continues to undercut its own advantages, China has established the foundations to provide at least some plausible replacements. Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
The task ahead is to ensure that economic policy strengthens—rather than undercuts—the political capacity of the working class. Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026 Say hello to the undercut, which is fierce, anything but floaty, and decidedly cool. Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undercut

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of undercut was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Undercut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undercut. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

undercut

1 of 2 verb
undercut; undercutting
1
: to cut away the underpart of something or material beneath something
2
: to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than
undercut a competitor
3
: to strike so as to give a backspin or height to the shot
a tennis player undercutting the ball

undercut

2 of 2 noun
: the action or result of undercutting

Medical Definition

: the part of a tooth lying between the gum and the points of maximum outward bulge on the tooth's surfaces

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