as in destruction
the act of destroying or damaging something deliberately so that it does not work correctly
Angry workers were responsible for the sabotage of the machines. Officials have not yet ruled out sabotage as a possible cause of the crash.
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1
as in to thwart
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2
as in to destroy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sabotage
Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
The solution isn’t pushing harder but learning how to regulate your physiology so your body can support — rather than sabotage — your fitness goals.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
However, engaging in vigorous workouts late in the evening may disrupt your sleep and sabotage your weight loss efforts.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Noun
Winners do self-mastery work to release self-sabotage and rise.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
The solution isn’t pushing harder but learning how to regulate your physiology so your body can support — rather than sabotage — your fitness goals.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
However, engaging in vigorous workouts late in the evening may disrupt your sleep and sabotage your weight loss efforts.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabotage
Noun
-
In June 2025, EOS demonstrated the destruction of a tank using a Rodeur 330 fitted with an inert warhead, controlled via FPV.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
-
While navigating Westport by car or on foot is chaotic right now, the goal is to prevent destruction in the future.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Police officers seeking to thwart the getaway are impeded by the festivities of the Puerto Rican Day parade, which features a sublime performance by the salsa great Eddie Palmieri (who died earlier this month, at the age of eighty-eight).—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
One of the pain points that has thwarted textile-to-textile recycling at scale is the preponderance of elastane that’s blended into everything from denim to leggings.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In the Pacific Palisades and nearby Malibu, flames burned for 31 days, scorching 37 square miles and destroying more than 6,000 structures, most of them homes.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In one case, the life of an upper-class woman and contemporary of Julius Caesar, Clodia, saw her reputation destroyed by false claims of harlotry, home-wrecking, and husband-killing.—
Time,
Time,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Parents frustrated by ticket limits Parents are also voicing concerns.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Even Republicans who were frustrated with Carney’s speech predicted the US-Canada relationship would remain unscathed by his harsh assessment of America’s role in the world.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Developed alongside the Mannerfelt Design Team, Awake's electric foiler uses a lightweight, rigid carbon composite hull to maintain stability while foiling.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Jan. 2026
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Essentially an inverted winger who wants to cut inside and shoot, too many of the Algerian’s shots have been blocked, but he’s also been foiled by a couple of good saves and hit the near post when running in behind late on in a win against Espanyol.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Luddites are back, wrecking technology in a quixotic effort to stop progress.—
Craig S. Smith,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The Pacers, who have been wrecked by injuries this season, were missing guards Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) and Bennedict Mathurin (thumb) and forward Obi Toppin (foot) in their final matchup against Boston this season.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sabotage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabotage. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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