Capitalism tends to erode the moral foundations on which it was built.
Source: tatoeba (1775327)
Erode
/ɪˈɹəʊd/
Synonyms for "erode" (319 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (64)
Verb(15 words)
Noun(11 words)
atrophyingattritionbrusabututcankerscannibalizingchipchippingcrumble away graduallycultural declinesdegrading
Adjective(2 words)
debilitateddecreased trust
Strong matches (96)
deliquescedematerializedepartdepletedepreciatederogatedestroydeterioratedetractdiedie awaydie outdigestdiminishdisappeardisintegratedisjoindisorganizedisparagedispel
Show 43 more words
dispersedissipatedissolvedivedo a fade-outdraindrain of resourcesdribble awaydropdrop offdwindleeateat awayeat intoeat upebberaseevanesceevaporateexhaustexitexpendextractfadefade awayfade outfallfall awayfall offfall to piecesfilefile awayfinishfinish offfissionfleeflyfrayfrazzlefretgallgnawgnaw away
Noun(13 words)
Verb(17 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (159)
Noun(43 words)
gnawinggorgegribblegrindsgulliesguttershollowhollowsnibblespower declinerillrougheningsandsandssappingsapsscallopsscarpscouringscours
Show 23 more words
sluicesstream bank erosiontatteringtattersundercutundercutsundercuttingunderminerunderminingundermining credibilityundermining trustwashwash awaywashesweakened formweakeningwear losswearingweatheringweathering processweathering rateweatherswhittling
gogo awaygo up in smokegobblegobble upgrategrazegrindgrind downhideimpairimpoverishingestlanguishleachleave no traceleave the scenelessenlet upmelt
Show 68 more words
melt awaymoldernibble awayoxidizepasspass awaypass outperishplummetplungepurifyrasprazereducerefineremoveretire from sightretrenchrubrub awayrub offrub outrufflerun lowrustsagscourscrapescrubscuffshaveshortenshrinksinksink awayskinslipspendsplitsquandersubductsubsidesubtractsuck drysuffer an eclipseswallowswallow uptail offtake awaytake fromtatterthinthin outuse upvanishvanish from sightwanewastewaste awaywearwear awaywear downwear offwear outwear raggedweatherweedwithdraw
Verb(24 words)
Adjective(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: wear away, abate, ablate, abrade, abrade.
- Sentence evidence is available for erode, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "erode".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "erode"
Keep "erode" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "erode" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "erode", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "erode" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
6 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
This will erode our credibility.
Source: tatoeba (5607287)
This will erode his credibility if it is made more widely known.
Source: tatoeba (5607288)
By helping an insect out of difficulty, I do nothing more than try to erode a little of the never-ending human guilt towards creation.
Source: tatoeba (6145784)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "erode"?
Closest matches include wear away, abate, ablate, abrade, abrade.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "erode"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.