Bernard De Voto
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Corrode comes from Latin corrodere ("to gnaw to pieces"), a combination of the prefix "cor-" (used here as an intensifier with the meaning of "completely") and the verb "rodere" ("to gnaw"). At one time, "corrode" was used to literally indicate the action of gnawing away, as in "woodworms corroded the wood." But it is the more figurative senses from the action of gnawing or eating away that have persisted, as in "salt water corroded the iron" or "graphic content on television and the Internet is corroding the moral fabric of society."
Examples of corrode in a Sentence
Erin Doherty, Axios, 9 Mar. 2025
Put simply, Russian control over any part of Ukraine subverts and corrodes Ukrainian sovereignty everywhere.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
Toss in the Buffalo Sabres slogging toward a 14th straight season sans playoffs, which would tie the New York Jets for the longest active drought among the big four North American sports, and the mood corrodes further.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
To prevent the sweat and oils in your hands from corroding or breaking down rubber weights over time, wipe them down with warm water mixed with a little bit of soap.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corrode
Cite this Entry
“Corrode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corrode. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
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corrode
verb
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