destabilizeverb [ T ]
UK usually destabilise uk/ˌdiːˈsteɪ.bəl.aɪz/us/ˌdiːˈsteɪ.bəl.aɪz/to make a government, area, or political group lose power or control, or to make a political or economic situation less strong or safe, by causing changes and problems:
They uncovered a plot to destabilize the government.
The conflict destabilized the whole region.
Further increases in imports could destabilize the economy.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Upsetting and destabilizing
- bring
- bring sb down
- delegitimize
- dislocate
- disrupt
- disruptive
- loop
- make waves idiom
- put the skids under sth idiom
- rock
- rock the boat idiom
- scupper
- stir
- turn sth upside down idiom
- undercut
- undermine
- upset
- upside down
- wave
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destabilization
noun [ U ] UK usually destabilisation uk/diːˌsteɪ.bəl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/us/diːˌsteɪ.bəl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
destabilizing
adjective [ before noun ] UK usually destabilising uk/ˌdiːˈsteɪ.bəl.aɪ.zɪŋ/us/ˌdiːˈsteɪ.bəl.aɪ.zɪŋ/
The conflict had a seriously destabilizing effect on the region.