erode

[ih-rohd]

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.

verb (used without object)

eroded, eroding 

1. to become eroded.

erode

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of erode¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of erode¹

C17: from Latin ērōdere, from _ex- ¹ + rōdere to gnaw

Example Sentences

He noted that questions remain about how much of those tariffs companies may try to pass on to consumers, and the extent to which the levies may erode retailers’ profit margins.

Read more on MarketWatch

At the Old Bailey, Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Gill had abused his position and eroded "public confidence in democracy".

Read more on BBC

This reflected concerns from countries including China that trade measures -- like taxes on carbon-intensive goods -- could erode export revenues or throw up barriers to green technology sales.

Read more on Barron's

A more urgent problem for some pension managers is trying to make sure that these evergreen funds don’t erode their own profits or increase their costs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Israel has expressed concerns that its military superiority in the region could be eroded if Saudi Arabia acquires the F-35 jets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• corrode 
• destroy