erode

To wear away by abrasion, corrosion, or chemical reaction.

Verb

  1. To wear away by abrasion, corrosion, or chemical reaction.
    • The cliff is gradually being eroded by the waves.

    Synonyms: corrode eat away gnaw undermine denude

  2. To destroy gradually by an ongoing process.
    • to erode a person’s trust
    • to erode society’s morals
    • We've been worried about adolescents' diminishing writing and speaking skills for years. Lately, we have noticed that these skills are eroding at an accelerating rate, month-over-month. - 2025 December 9, Rachel Konrad...

    Synonyms: corrode eat away

Origin

From French éroder, from Latin ērōdō.

Forms

erodes eroding eroded

Related

erosion

Derived

bioerode erodable eroder erodible noneroding reerode