erode

verb

i-ˈrōd How to pronounce erode (audio)
Definition of erodenext
1
as in to eat
to consume or wear away gradually the fear that inflation will continue to erode people's savings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 But with inflation slowing in June, wages are no longer being eroded by inflation — for now. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 That leaves Warsh in a difficult place, with his credibility potentially eroded in the face of the markets and within the Fed itself just months into the job. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 30 July 2026 Goodrum says the focus on Fauci's stance may erode public trust in research. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 29 July 2026 And while Republicans once had an edge over Democrats on trust to handle the economy, that has eroded. — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for erode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erode
  1. eat
  2. wear
  3. destroy
  4. fray
  5. corrode
  6. reduce
  7. rub
  8. erase
Verb
  • People ‘in the middle’ While many are flocking to take advantage of an $8 burger, Alicia Roten’s family is simply trying not to eat out at all.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • If software ate the world by selling to it, AI may finish the job by buying it.
    — Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of eat
Verb
  • Heavy rainfall continued to impact Lollapalooza on Saturday, as doors were delayed opening until 2pm, and guests were advised to wear waterproof shoes as Grant Park would be muddy.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Satin and silk iterations, worn by stars like Anne Hathaway, are sophisticated while still maintaining the functionality of the trend.
    — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wear
Verb
  • Spider-Man teams up with Jon Bernthal’s Punisher to take down the green giant and stop the him from destroying the Damage Control skyscraper entirely.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • An official for Green Diamond Resources similarly said her company has no intention of destroying the bird’s habitat.
    — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • Nanfelt said some have misread any concern of unexpected decisions this year as pointing to a fraying relationship between city leadership and the business community.
    — DJ Simmons July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
  • If literacy is a key part of the American story, that narrative seems to be fraying at the edges.
    — Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • The salt can harm fish and other wildlife, and corrode bridges and automobiles.
    — Nathaniel Warner, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
  • Cleaning vinegar should not be used on surfaces that corrode or pit, like natural stone, aluminum, and cast iron.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 July 2026
Definition of corrode
Verb
  • For example, shifting the Fed’s portfolio toward short-term Treasury bills and away from long-term bonds or mortgage-back securities could reduce market price distortion and limit the government’s role in allocating capital across sectors.
    — David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • And China, with its massive oil inventory, has been drawing down its reserves and reduced its crude imports by more than 4 million barrels a day, according to JPMorgan.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Schmitt was visibly shaken up and could be seen rubbing his left knee in discomfort.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • About 30 seconds under running water, while gently rubbing the produce with your hands, does far more than a passive soak.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 27 July 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • In the third inning, the Rockies erased Salvador Perez’s leadoff single as Massey grounded into a double play.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • How neighborhoods can reclaim their parks Finch and Thrasher met with Walker in December to offer their thoughts on how to erase the stigma.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of erase

Browse Nearby Words

ermines
erode
eroded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Erode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erode. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on erode

Nglish: Translation of erode for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about erode

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All