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
Kelly Sloan, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Nancy Leprino’s lawsuit calls this sabotage.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
These draconian cuts sabotage future generations.
—Jane M. Saks, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Noun
One is prudent governance; the other is self-sabotage.
—Kelly Sloan, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Nancy Leprino’s lawsuit calls this sabotage.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
The convergence of Abundance centrists and conservative environmentalists would seem to belie the ACC’s assertion that the environmental movement is dominated by radicals who would rather sabotage the American economy than accept any of the compromises necessary to achieve a prosperous future.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
These draconian cuts sabotage future generations.
—Jane M. Saks, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabotage
Noun
-
The fighting has carved a path of destruction from agricultural towns near the border to Beirut, killing more than 2,000 people and displacing in excess of 1 million others, according to Lebanese authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Washington wanted to test if the Iranian command, after seeing the destruction from six weeks of war and the killing of its Supreme Leader, would now bend to its will, experts said.—
Saeed Shah,
Time,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In an arrest affidavit, investigators said Victor Lee Hawkins, 20, armed with two semiautomatic handguns, walked into the lobby of the school that afternoon, told everyone to hit the ground and tried to shoot one student but was thwarted by a malfunctioning weapon.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Australian actor, 31, stars in the new horror movie as Arthur, who re-creates and uploads videos of the kills shown in the titular 1978 film (once widely believed to be an actual snuff film), opposite Barbie Ferreira, who plays a content moderator trying to thwart him.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All the State Forensic Authority’s DNA analysis labs were looted and destroyed in the fighting.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But now with factories, energy facilities, bridges and railways destroyed—leaving many Iranians unemployed—conditions have gotten worse.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At least, there was a lot less wrecking.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
So if you’re frustrated by high streaming fees, this merger is a nightmare.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Trump’s war with Iran, attacks on Pope Leo XIV, and a Jesus meme have frustrated some young conservatives, including longtime supporters who question his focus.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Practical reality could nearly ruin your plans while the intuitive Moon in your 6th House of Effort squares Venus in your 9th House of Exploration.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Everything was synced up for him Saturday, and even Nimmo couldn’t ruin that breakthrough.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yurov had a golden opportunity to give Minnesota its first lead near the midway point of the game with a breakaway from the far blue line, but he was foiled by a left pad save.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
15 Apr. 2026
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Part of the solution for organizations may lie in doubling down on the strategies that are already foiling hundreds if not thousands of exploit attempts per day, according to Lewis.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then the game-wrecking interior defensive lineman had a down year coming off surgery for a dislocated elbow.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Cincinnati has been seeking a young, game-wrecking defensive tackle for nearly a decade.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sabotage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabotage. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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