Words / C1

SAB-uh-tahzh/ˈsæbətɑːʒ/

To sabotage is to wreck or block on purpose: sabotage a deal, an act of sabotage (noun too). Undermine is quieter and slower; vandalise is damage to property. Saboteur is the person. Do not call an honest mistake sabotage.

Meaning

To damage or prevent something on purpose so that it cannot succeed.

Examples

• “Deleting the shared folder sabotaged the group submission.”
• “Hiding the only dongle sabotaged the presentation without a smashed window.”
• “Wartime sabotage is the original sense; office sabotage is still intent, not a typo.”

Good to know

Deliberately wreck/block. Noun same spelling. Person: saboteur. Quiet cousin: undermine. Accident: not sabotage.

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