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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to thwart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sabotage
Sam Corbin, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2025
Some reasons include: Damage to the Nord Stream pipeline system in 2022 sabotage and Germany's refusal to sign off on Nord Stream 2.
—Ben Geman, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
On its own, the prompt injection failed to sabotage a summary provided by Gemini.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Noun
Our suspicions of sabotage are confirmed at 49-Across: There’s a [Person who may have ruined your puzzle experience].
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2025
Some reasons include: Damage to the Nord Stream pipeline system in 2022 sabotage and Germany's refusal to sign off on Nord Stream 2.
—Ben Geman, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
His current take on the war suggests that Russian President Vladimir Putin is sabotaging President Donald Trump’s best efforts to end the war quickly through negotiations in order to capture more Ukrainian territory.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
On its own, the prompt injection failed to sabotage a summary provided by Gemini.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabotage
Noun
-
Here are the main players joining Joel and Ellie in fortified Jackson, Wyoming, five years after the Firefly destruction: Isabela Merced stars as Dina Who's Dina?—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The April 4 announcement of the security zone expansion and the destruction of Umm al-Nasser demonstrates the IDF's continued military operations in Gaza and is an example of how quickly the conditions in Gaza have deteriorated since the ceasefire.—
Kerem Inal,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Our favorite bike locks for every ride, including new locks designed to thwart angle grinders.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Scott was originally set to headline the fest in 2020 before the pandemic thwarted those plans.—
Justin Curto,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
More than half a dozen tornadoes have been confirmed, including one in Marshall County, Oklahoma, that left two homes completely destroyed and damaged about 20 others.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Fans of the franchise will remember that the Battle of Exegol was the climactic showdown between the Resistance and the First Order, which ended with the Sith being destroyed once and for all.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The team settled on a patient with SD Autism Spectrum disorder who had an ankle sprain but frustrated Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) with his endless questions.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Although so highly esteemed, the notoriously taciturn director would often frustrate his colleagues by his reticence to explain his directorial intentions.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Justin Champagnie hit a 3-pointer, the Heat had a backcourt violation and then Carrington ruined Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 40-point game by dropping this dagger on him.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But the assassin is foiled by none other than Bart, now under house arrest.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2025
-
So Far The clip starts off with Neeson's character, Frank Drebin Jr., foiling a bank robbery by disguising himself as a little girl.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Three days prior, Dale Earnhardt, the sport’s superhero and antihero and transcendent phenom all in one, wrecked into the wall on Turn 4 on the last lap of the Daytona 500.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2025
-
The architectural vandalism was hideous and heartbreaking to watch, inhumane civic renewal by wrecking ball in the discredited vein of Robert Moses.—
Frank Rich,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Rosemary restrained herself from scratching at her wig.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Education Trump says Education Department will no longer oversee student loans, 'special needs' Over 100,000 U.S. public school students were secluded or restrained during the 2017-2018 school year, according to federal data.—
Dylan Peers McCoy,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sabotage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabotage. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share