sabotage

American  

[sab-uh-tahzh, sab-uh-tahzh] / ˈsæb əˌtɑʒ, ˌsæb əˈtɑʒ /

noun

1. any underhand interference with production, work, etc., in a plant, factory, etc., as by enemy agents during wartime or by employees during a trade dispute.

2. any undermining of a cause.

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verb (used with object)

sabotaged, sabotaging

1. to injure or attack by sabotage.

   Synonyms:

   cripple, vandalize, disable

sabotage British  

/ ˈsæbəˌtɑːʒ /

noun

1. the deliberate destruction, disruption, or damage of equipment, a public service, etc, as by enemy agents, dissatisfied employees, etc

2. any similar action or behaviour

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verb

1. (tr) to destroy, damage, or disrupt, esp by secret means

Other Word Forms

• unsabotaged adjective

Etymology

Origin of sabotage

First recorded in 1865–70; from French, from sabot(er) “to botch,” originally, “to harry, shake up, strike” (verb derivative of sabot sabot ) + -age -age

Example Sentences

“We look forward to making sure that oversight is preserved and protected and not muzzled and not unplugged or sabotaged.”

From Los Angeles Times

National Security Agency on a sabotage project called Stuxnet that was later revealed to have infiltrated an Iranian nuclear enrichment facility in 2010.

From The Wall Street Journal

The report found no evidence of a conspiracy to sabotage the prosecution, either through "a co-ordinated high-level effort", "deliberate efforts to obstruct the prosecution" or to "circumvent constitutional safeguards".

From BBC

While it is yet to respond to the latest allegations, Moscow has previously denied European allegations of a Russian sabotage or hybrid campaign.

From BBC

Any attempts to sabotage our recovery work will be handled seriously.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cripple
• destroy
• disrupt
• hamper
• hinder
• obstruct
• subvert
• torpedo
• undermine
• vandalize
• wreck