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
Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2025
Both have conspired to sabotage global climate agreements.
—Michael E. Mann, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025
The more sabotage missions completed undetected, the greater the prize – but if a Celebrity Saboteur is caught, the contestant faces a difficult decision.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Noun
However, engaging in vigorous workouts late in the evening may disrupt your sleep and sabotage your weight loss efforts.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2025
Both have conspired to sabotage global climate agreements.
—Michael E. Mann, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
The King and his youngest son recently met, and though the meeting was reportedly positive, there have been suggestions of sabotage from Harry’s camp in regards to how some information has leaked.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025
The more sabotage missions completed undetected, the greater the prize – but if a Celebrity Saboteur is caught, the contestant faces a difficult decision.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabotage
Noun
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Aghion and Howitt studied the mechanisms behind sustained growth, including in a 1992 article that offered a complex mathematical model for creative destruction that added new aspects not included in earlier models.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
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Still, through the summer of 2020, stories of statue destruction emerged from all corners of the country.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Animals like squirrels, chipmunks, and deer often thwart gardeners' efforts by digging up or eating flowering bulbs.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Oct. 2025
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Hurling a few 12-to-6 knee-bucklers can thwart the opponent’s smooth rhythm.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fear of further Israeli strikes, particularly on Iran, remains acute in the public’s mind as much of Iranian air defenses likely were destroyed by Israel in June.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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The Wild were absolutely destroyed in the faceoff circle, losing 44 of 71 (38 percent success rate).—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The coaches also decided King’s wrecking-ball approach was effective.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
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The addresses listed in the wrecking permits border the east of the truck plant where Ford makes its iconic Super Duty trucks, Expedition SUVs and luxury Lincoln Navigators.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Laurene Allen, an environmental advocate who lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire, where PFNA was one of several forever chemicals discovered in drinking water in 2016, was awaiting the report and is frustrated and enraged by its delay.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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The heated debate around the City Hall Project and picking apart the budget were two experiences in particular that frustrated Nguyen.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Or pursue the rancid criminal element across the galaxy as a bounty hunter, making your fortune by ruining bad guys' lives.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Nothing ruins a trip faster than your suitcase not showing up at baggage claim, right?—
Emily Belfiore,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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So give a warm welcome to The Life of a Showgirl, Swift’s 12th studio album, which foils The Tortured Poets Department in a few major ways.—
Jaeden Pinder,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2025
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Our plans were foiled, but our spirits remained high.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One raid saw masked federal agents repelling from Black Hawk helicopters and wrecking an apartment building.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
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The wrecking-ball style is the way King played even at Longview (Texas) High, where his father was the coach, and didn’t coddle or protect his son, as Dickey remembers.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sabotage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabotage. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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