corroded; corroding
1
: to eat away by degrees as if by gnawing
especially
: to wear away gradually usually by chemical action
the metal was corroded beyond repair
2
: to weaken or destroy gradually : undermine
… meanness and miserliness that corrode the human spirit.—
Bernard DeVoto
Bernard DeVoto
: to undergo corrosion
Did you know?
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
Rainwater may corrode the steel containers.
Over time, the pipes become corroded and need to be replaced.
After a few weeks in the ocean, the boat began to corrode.
Years of lies and secrets had corroded their relationship.
Recent Examples on the Web
Antisemitism weakens trust, corrodes pluralism and damages the social fabric on which diverse communities depend.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
One of the more intriguing space stories in a while broke last week when NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said during a congressional hearing that the two habitation modules built for the Lunar Gateway had been corroded.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
The primary ground point is near the thermostat housing, and over time those connections corrode and cause a wide range of problems.
—Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Lead pipes can corrode and contaminate drinking water.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for corrode
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Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
One of the more intriguing space stories in a while broke last week when NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said during a congressional hearing that the two habitation modules built for the Lunar Gateway had been corroded.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
The primary ground point is near the thermostat housing, and over time those connections corrode and cause a wide range of problems.
—Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Lead pipes can corrode and contaminate drinking water.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for corrode
Cite this Entry
“Corrode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corrode. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
corrode
verb
cor·rode
kə-ˈrōd 
corroded; corroding
: to eat or be eaten away by degrees as if by gnawing
a bridge corroded by rust
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