destabilize

Language: en

🇺🇸 /dɪˈsteɪbəˌlaɪz/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To make something less stable or less steady, especially a government, economy, or system; to undermine the stability of.; To cause political or social unrest in a region or nation, often deliberately.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: destabilizes Past: destabilized Past part.: destabilized Pres part.: destabilizing

Collocations

destabilize the regiondestabilize the economydestabilize the governmentdestabilize the marketdestabilize the situation

Derivatives

destabilizationdestabilizerdestabilizingstabilizestabilitystableunstable

Synonyms

underminedisruptunsettleshake upsubvert

Antonyms

stabilizesettlesecurestrengthen

Commonly confused

destabilise
EN: 'Destabilise' is the British English spelling; 'destabilize' is the American English spelling. Both are correct in their respective varieties.
undermine
EN: 'Undermine' means to weaken gradually or secretly, while 'destabilize' specifically means to make something unstable or cause it to lose stability.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the prefix 'de-' + 'stabilize'. In British English, use 'destabilise' (with 's'); in American English, use 'destabilize' (with 'z').

💬 Examples

  1. The sudden withdrawal of foreign investment threatened to destabilize the country's economy.

  2. The opposition accused the government of trying to destabilize the region through covert operations.