erode

American  

[ih-rohd] / ɪˈroʊd /

verb (used with object)

eroded, eroding

1. to eat into or away; destroy by slow consumption or disintegration.

   Battery acid had eroded the engine. Inflation erodes the value of our money.

   Synonyms:

   spoil, ravage, waste, corrode

   Antonyms:

   reinforce, strengthen

2. to form (a gully, butte, or the like) by erosion.

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verb (used without object)

eroded, eroding

1. to become eroded.

erode British  

/ ɪˈrəʊd /

verb

1. to grind or wear down or away or become ground or worn down or away

2. to deteriorate or cause to deteriorate

   jealousy eroded the relationship

3. (tr; usually passive) pathol to remove (tissue) by ulceration

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Other Word Forms

• erodability noun
• erodable adjective
• erodent adjective
• erodibility noun
• erodible adjective
• erosible adjective
• noneroded adjective
• noneroding adjective
• unerodable adjective
• uneroded adjective
• unerodible adjective
• uneroding adjective

Etymology

Origin of erode

First recorded in 1605–15; from French ė́roder or directly from Latin ērōdere, equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + rōdere “to gnaw”; e- ¹

Example Sentences

Some in the industry argue that a degree of insider information is necessary for prediction markets to be accurate, while others say it erodes trust.

From Barron's

This measurement acts like a "cosmic clock," allowing scientists to determine how quickly or slowly ancient landscapes eroded and shifted over extremely long periods.

From Science Daily

Consumer demand in China is low compared with other major economies, and the property downturn has eroded wealth and confidence.

From BBC

“My audience talks about this constantly. Cruising used to feel special and premium almost by default, but that perception is genuinely eroding.”

From MarketWatch

Home prices have fallen sharply in many cities since 2021, eroding household wealth and confidence.

From BBC

Related Words

• corrode
• destroy