sabotage 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sabotagenext
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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sabotage

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to thwart

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2
as in to destroy

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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
Noun
The lesson isn’t that today’s police running license-plate-reading systems are secretly plotting political sabotage. — Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 The White House instituted the ban citing the threat of foreign entities potentially spying or conducting sabotage through the robots. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Here are five ideas that may have been drilled into you growing up that could sabotage your success — and what to do instead. — Melody Wilding, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2026 Redefine What Success Actually Looks Like One of the most common ways professionals sabotage their own brand-building efforts is by measuring success purely in follower counts or download numbers. — Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sabotage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabotage
  1. destruction
  2. thwart
  3. destroy
  4. wrecking
  5. frustrate
  6. ruin
  7. foil
  8. wreck
Noun
  • Photos quickly spread across Telegram channels, showing where the destruction has occurred.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As rescuers carried the priest’s body away from the destruction, a photographer snapped a photo.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of destruction
Verb
  • In the footage, players follow the story of Jason and Lucia, a couple living in the fictional Vice City, who are picking up drugs, and their mission is thwarted by the police, who begin to raid the place.
    — Moises Mendez II, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ortiz vowed to interrogate and, if necessary, kill any traitors who thwarted him and Simon.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of thwart
Verb
  • In 2025, Ukraine smuggled over 100 drones into Russia inside cargo trucks to conduct strikes that damaged or destroyed roughly one-third of Russia’s active bomber fleet and caused approximately $7 billion in damages.
    — Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Some 36,000 houses and buildings were destroyed or damaged, and more than 2,000 people are still living in evacuation centers, including school gymnasiums and community centers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of destroy
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
Definition of wrecking
Verb
  • Conservative political analyst Melik Abdul agreed with Tindell, telling CNN as a Black Mississippi native he has been frustrated by how Crump has zeroed in on race in the Wells case.
    — Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Jolly has pitched himself to voters as someone offering a tent for Floridians who are independents, Republicans and Democrats frustrated with the status quo of a political zeitgeist that prioritizes polarization and stokes riots rather than uniting.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • The fight between a small Georgia community and tech giant Meta has escalated this week after four families filed a lawsuit against the company alleging a central Georgia data center project has contaminated their water and ruined their home values.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Gen, forgetting her swollen wrist, perks up at the thought of having a new person to ruin sheets with.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • Their schemes are foiled when real feelings enter the picture.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Unfortunately, the start of World War I just 20 days before the eclipse foiled the expedition.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of foil
Verb
  • The violent swings that powered his game, launching golf balls far beyond his competitors, also wrecked his back and knees.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
  • An eight-game lead with 25 games left is a virtual lock for Brewers manager Pat Murphy and his wrecking crew, as even optimistic Cubs fans understand.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of wreck

Browse Nearby Words

sables
sabotage
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Cite this Entry

“Sabotage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabotage. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sabotage

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sabotage

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