Erode

medium

ih-RODE

verb

Definition

To gradually wear away or diminish

Examples

Wind and water slowly erode the coastal cliffs.
Public trust in the institution has eroded over time.

Synonyms

corrodedeterioratewear awaydegrade

Antonyms

buildstrengthenfortifyreinforce

Categories

GRE Tip

Erode is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "corrode" or "deteriorate" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "build".

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