saboteur

noun

sab·​o·​teur ˌsa-bə-ˈtər 

-ˈtu̇r,

-ˈtyu̇r

: one that practices sabotage

Examples of saboteur in a Sentence

The car's tires were slashed by saboteurs.

Recent Examples on the Web

If instead the corporation digs in, further empowering the unwitting wreckers and saboteurs — well, bless their hearts. —Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025

German federal prosecutors said a Ukrainian national suspected of coordinating a group of saboteurs who in September 2022 blew up the Nord Stream pipelines that transported Russian gas to Europe has been detained in Italy. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025

In many cases, the true saboteur isn’t poor planning or resistant employees. —Mustafa Shreet, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Otherwise Israel could, in theory, only chip at Fordo’s periphery—by destroying power sources, collapsing entrances or sending saboteurs—while uranium continues to be enriched below. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from saboter

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for saboteur

• amateur
• connoisseur
• kieselguhr
• monseigneur
• procureur
• retransfer
• silencer
• voyageur
• birr
• blur
• bur
• cur

Kids Definition

saboteur

noun

sab·​o·​teur ˌsab-ə-ˈtər 

-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r

: a person who performs sabotage