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ébranler

to shake, destabilise

verb eh-brahn-LEH Rare

Also means

to rock, unsettle

Usage Note

ébranler can be used physically (to shake a structure) or figuratively (to undermine someone's conviction or authority). Ébranler la confiance means 'to shake confidence'. The reflexive s'ébranler means 'to begin to move' (of a train or procession setting off), a quite different nuance.

Examples

"Ce scandale a ébranlé le gouvernement."

Natural Translation

This scandal shook the government.

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