to erode

Examples

• All

• Today, the model is at risk of being eroded by multiple forces.

  Academic text (2008)

• We could use her to erode support.

  The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

• Well, Britain has so allowed its industrial base to erode that.

  MIT OpenCourseWare

• And so those who want to erode that will have an easier time.

• Do you ever feel as if your mind had started to erode?

  Repo Man (1984)

• But the passage of time is all it takes to erode that initial impulse.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Most people think inflation is bad because it erodes paper money.

  Rob Moore

• Why has that framework been eroded over time?

• Economic nationalism began to erode in the 1980s and nearly disappeared in the 1990s.

  Academic text (1999)

• During the early reservation period, Northern Cheyenne health continued to erode, particularly maternal and infant health.

  Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

F

to fade

vsto erode

531 1.2

To slowly become less visible, bright, or loud

is about slow weakening or destruction rather than only loss of visibility

D

to diminish

vsto erode

201 3.7

To become less in size, importance, or value

is about gradual weakening or destruction rather than a general reduction

C

to crumble

vsto erode

177 3.4

To break into small pieces or become weaker and collapse

is about slow weakening over time rather than sudden physical breaking

D

to deteriorate

vsto erode

146 5.9

To get worse in quality, condition, or value

is about slow abstract weakening rather than simply worsening quality

D

to decay

vsto erode

37 4.4

To slowly fall into ruin because of age or neglect

is slow weakening of abstract things rather than physical decomposition

D

to disintegrate

vsto erode

• Specialized

29 6.0

Break into smaller parts by losing energy in a physical process, for example in an atom

is gradual weakening or loss over time rather than a physical breakup

E

to eat away at

vsto erode

• Informal

25 4.4

To damage something slowly over time, for example a building or a person's confidence

is the general slow weakening across contexts, not only a figurative image

E

to eat away

vsto erode

17 4.1

Slowly damages metal, rock and someone's confidence by chemicals or steady pressure

is the broader slow weakening, not focused on chemical or physical agents

R

to rot away

vsto erode

16 4.2

To slowly become weaker or fall apart because it is not cared for

is general slow weakening, not necessarily implying biological decay

E

to eat at

vsto erode

• Informal

14 7.1

Gradually make someone feel worse or less confident

is a general slow weakening across things, not specifically internal feeling

G

to gnaw at

vsto erode

7 6.1

To make someone feel worried or less confident for a long time

is broader weakening of things rather than specifically someone's mental state

B

to begin to crumble

vsto erode

4 4.0

Start to break into pieces or stop working well

is ongoing slow weakening rather than only the initial stage of falling apart

W

to whittle away

vsto erode

3 5.9

To make something smaller gradually by cutting or wearing it away

is slow weakening that applies more broadly than literal small piece removal

W

to wear away

vsto erode

2 3.8

To slowly remove material by rubbing or long use

is a broader slow weakening not limited to physical wear or friction

D

to degrade gracefully

vsto erode

7.0

To become worse slowly in a calm, controlled way without sudden failure

is general slow weakening without implying control or dignified manner

A

to abrase

vsto erode

• Archaic

9.9

Wear away the surface of something by rubbing or scraping

is general slow weakening not restricted to surface abrasion

A

to attrite

vsto erode

9.6

To wear a surface down by rubbing

is broader weakening or loss, not limited to physical surface actions

A

to attrit

vsto erode

9.9

To wear away a surface slowly by rubbing

is broader slow weakening beyond surface erosion by friction

Antonyms

B

to build

∞ 1.0

To make something by joining parts or materials

S

to strengthen

327 3.0

To make muscles, relationships, or groups stronger

How Damaged

to destroy

∞ 1.0

to undermine

270 6.8

to erode

83 4.2

to weaken

305 2.8

to chip away at

18 4.6

Surface Forms

Etymology