undercut
verb
un·der·cut
| \ ˌən-dər-ˈkət
\
\
undercut;
undercutting
Definition of undercut
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
: to perform the action of cutting away beneath
undercut
noun
un·der·cut
| \ ˈən-dər-ˌkət
\
\
Definition of undercut (Entry 2 of 2)
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: Verb
The statement undercuts notions of managerial accountability to shareholders, in CII’s view. — Heather Landy, Quartz at Work, "Not everyone is on board with a major business lobby’s new definition of corporate purpose," 19 Aug. 2019 Warren’s trade proposals aim to support an extensive agenda of progressive economic reform at home and to ensure that trade deals do not undercut it through the back door. — Daniel W. Drezner, Twin Cities, "Daniel Drezner: The weak defenses of Elizabeth Warren’s trade plan," 15 Aug. 2019 But going there, Stern and Fennelly have wisely discerned, would undercut the underlying human drama of the show. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "Review: 'Fully Committed’ a funny, moving, juggling act from TheaterWorks," 12 Aug. 2019 But the official added that Biden has shown to have resilient support among African Americans that will withstand any attempts by rivals to undercut it. — NBC News, "Biden sets sights on Trump for tonight's debate," 1 Aug. 2019 On Wednesday, lawmakers at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing repeatedly pressed an Amazon lawyer to explain whether the company uses data from its third-party sellers to undercut them and give an advantage to Amazon's own products. — Brian Fung, CNN, "Trump vows 'strong look' at Pentagon contract that could go to his frequent target, Amazon," 18 July 2019 Most cities protect major urban corridors rather than undercut them as this flyover scheme does. — Ed Stockly, latimes.com, "Reader letters: Let the Marianne Williamson debate rage on," 8 July 2019 Retailers say Chinese rivals could undercut them by shipping goods directly to U.S. consumers by mail, evading tariffs. — Josh Zumbrun, WSJ, "When It Comes to Tariffs, Many U.S. Companies Are on China’s Side," 27 June 2019 Digital-payments systems such as PayPal and Apple Pay piggyback on the debit- and credit-card system rather than undercut it. — The Economist, "Facebook wants to create a global currency," 21 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
This actually isn't the first time Berry has revealed an artsy undercut. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Halle Berry Just Debuted the Coolest Undercut Art," 16 May 2019 Tons of celebrities have rocked undercuts over the years—including Kylie Jenner, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Cara Delevingne, and Natalie Dormer. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Selena Gomez Just Shaved Her Head," 23 Apr. 2018 An undercut is also a cool and easy way to add spice to just about any updo. — Rebecca Norris, Allure, "15 Undercut Ideas That Are Going to Give You Major Hair Inspo," 12 Apr. 2018 Jason Sudeikis and Ed Harris do strong work playing harshly estranged, somehow pulling us close to their off-putting characters before forced sentiment in the late going undercuts director Mark Raso’s film. — Tom Russo, BostonGlobe.com, "Ed Harris and Jason Sudeikis clash as father and son in ‘Kodachrome’," 18 Apr. 2018 See: glitter lip art, terranium eyes, bejeweled undercuts, and now? — Kelsi Zimmerman, Marie Claire, "Chic or Clownish? Pom Pom Makeup Is Now a Thing," 23 May 2017 The Justice Department’s move undercuts perhaps the most critical argument by advocates in the Texas case. — The Washington Post, Twin Cities, "Justice Department changes its position in high-profile Texas voter ID case," 27 Feb. 2017 The cut made the most of Taraji's previous undercut, with her kinks at full freedom. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "Taraji P. Henson's Natural Curls Are Everything, As Is the Reason Behind Them," 26 June 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'undercut.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for undercut
undercut
verb
English Language Learners Definition of undercut
: to offer to sell things or work for a lower cost than (another person or company)
: to make (something) weaker or less effective
See the full definition for undercut in the English Language Learners Dictionary
undercut
noun
un·der·cut
| \ ˈən-dər-ˌkət
\
\
Medical Definition of undercut
: 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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