undercut

Group 27Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To offer goods or services at a lower price than a competitor; to undermine or weaken
GRE

Example in Context

The new competitor undercut established firms on price while matching them on quality, rapidly capturing a significant share of the market.

Synonyms

weakenunderminesabotage

Etymology

Originally meant to cut below, implying a competitive tactic.

  • under- (Old English) — below
  • cut (Old English) — to sever

Memory Aid

✂️Sounds like “under cut

When I UNDER CUT my prices, it's like giving my competitors a bad haircut — they’ll be bald!

Visual Association

💰A barber shop where one barber is cutting prices while the others look on in shock.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “undercut” mean on the GRE?

undercut (verb) means “To offer goods or services at a lower price than a competitor; to undermine or weaken”. The new competitor undercut established firms on price while matching them on quality, rapidly capturing a significant share of the market.

How to remember “undercut” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “undercut” sounds like “under cut”. When I UNDER CUT my prices, it's like giving my competitors a bad haircut — they’ll be bald!

What are synonyms for “undercut”?

Common synonyms: weaken, undermine, sabotage.