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

If confidence in the government’s fiscal management over the long run erodes, borrowing costs could rise, putting additional pressure on the budget.

From Barron's

To the extent more stock trading moves from traditional markets to the blockchain, traditional firms could also see their profits erode.

From Barron's

For example, AI could hurt the value of legacy software, online competition might erode retail margins and home construction is always competitive.

From The Wall Street Journal

She said a Year 8 reading assessment would increase pressure on pupils at a point in their education when confidence matters most, and that it would narrow the curriculum and erode teacher autonomy.

From BBC

Keep an eye on fees, as they can quietly erode returns.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• corrode
• destroy