ERODE Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

erode

verb

i-ˈrōd

Definition of erode

as in to eat

to consume or wear away gradually the fear that inflation will continue to erode people's savings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to wear

to damage or diminish by continued friction the winds and desert sands have eroded much of the original surface of these ancient monuments

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of erode Over time, as players bluff, bargain, and make increasingly dubious trades, trust starts to erode, more and more adverse selection happens — and the game descends into a kind of joyful chaos. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 Once the decision is made, continuing to relitigate it creates confusion, erodes trust, and slows execution. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Its growth is slowing, surging memory prices threaten to erode its margins, and more financial institutions are souring on the company. — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 Metrolink officials say that the gravel beneath the tracks began to erode due to the tides, which also caused interference with railroad communication systems. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for erode

Recent Examples of Synonyms for erode

Verb

The barrage has caused fuel shortages in Russia, eaten into Russian refining capacity, and unsettled the Russian public.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Then Green, his wife and Beloozerov spent the next several days planning their trip and eating meals Beloozerov paid for in cash pulled from a pouch around his neck stocked with $100, $50 and $2 bills.

— Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of eat

Verb

Holmes opted for one of her must-have brands, wearing a layered and textured, silk cotton organza strapless dress from Fforme.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2026
Some more images show Kidman, Bullock, 62, King, 26, and Williams, 29, wearing flowing gowns while hooked onto wires, seemingly filming a scene that involves flying, in front of a blue screen.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of wear

Verb

Vendors said enforcement sweeps that began earlier this year have threatened their livelihoods, with authorities confiscating vending equipment and, in some cases, destroying it.

— Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
One of those, the USS Gerald R Ford, also reported problems earlier this year, from toilets that weren’t working to a laundry fire that briefly stopped combat operations and destroyed some sleeping quarters.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

The long-staple cotton threads are less likely to fray or feel rough to the touch, helping the sheets maintain that smooth finish over time.

— Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2026
More drones and missiles are slipping through both sides’ fraying air defenses, meaning that the civilian death toll has increased, and more critical infrastructure is being damaged.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of fray

Verb

Liquid lead can corrode steel over time at normal operating temperatures of 530°C (about 990°F).

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
From that moment suspicion corrodes old loyalties, and the village’s Muslims are evacuated to a refugee camp for transport to Pakistan.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Definition of corrode

Verb

Studies show that drinking more fluid—preferably water—can significantly reduce the risk of stone formation and recurrence.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
The White Worm, who styled herself as a peacetime consigliere, is reduced to obsolescence by the promise of all-out war.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

The Cubs offense quickly erased the 1-0 deficit behind four consecutive hitters reaching with two outs in the top of the second.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
Reading scores of New York City public school students plummeted this past school year, erasing improvements in the subject recorded a year before, sparking calls from the teachers’ union for a change in approach.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of erase

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ermines

erode

eroded

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“Erode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erode. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of erode

verb

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