to infiltrate / seep under
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to infiltrate
To secretly enter an organization or group in order to weaken, disrupt, or take it over from within.
Es gab den Verdacht, dass die Bewegung von Geheimagenten unterwandert wurde.
There was suspicion that the movement had been infiltrated by secret agents.
to seep under
In geology or medicine, when a liquid such as water or pus penetrates beneath a layer and spreads there.
Das Wasser hat den Damm unterwandert und droht ihn zu brechen.
The water has seeped under the dam and threatens to break it.
'Unterwandern' (to infiltrate / seep under) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'unter-' always stays attached to the verb and is not separated in the sentence. The stress is on the second syllable: unter-WAN-dern.
Die Polizei vermutet, dass die Bande die Firma unterwandert hat.
The police suspect that the gang has infiltrated the company.
The word is made up of 'unter' (under) and 'wandern' (to wander). The literal meaning, 'to wander underneath,' helps you understand both meanings: someone moves secretly 'under' the surface of an organization, or a liquid penetrates 'under' a layer.
Der Spion sollte die feindliche Regierung unterwandern.
The spy was supposed to infiltrate the enemy government.
'Unterwandern' (to infiltrate / seep under) is always used with an accusative object. You ask: whom or what is being infiltrated?
Die Hacker versuchten, das Sicherheitssystem zu unterwandern.
The hackers tried to infiltrate the security system.
In the figurative sense, 'unterwandern' (to infiltrate) is often used in the context of espionage, politics, or crime. Typical objects are: an organization, a party, a company, or a government.
Die Journalisten deckten auf, wie die Mafia das Unternehmen unterwandert hatte.
The journalists uncovered how the mafia had infiltrated the company.
This literal meaning is technical language, usually from geology or medicine. It describes how a liquid gets under a solid layer. Typical subjects are 'Wasser' (water), 'Regen' (rain), or 'Eiter' (pus).
Nach tagelangem Regen unterwanderte das Wasser das Fundament des Hauses.
After days of rain, the water seeped under the foundation of the house.
to undermine
Untergraben and unterwandern can both describe secret action against an organization. Untergraben refers to slowly weakening its authority, trust, or stability. Unterwandern presupposes that people secretly enter the organization and gain influence there.
Mit eingeschleusten Mitgliedern versucht die Gruppe, die Organisation heimlich zu unterwandern.
By planting members inside it, the group is trying to secretly infiltrate the organization.
Ständige falsche Gerüchte untergraben langsam das Vertrauen in die Organisation.
Constant false rumors are slowly undermining trust in the organization.
