In medical contexts, erode means to slowly damage or wear away parts of the body like skin or tissue, often because of chemicals or illness.
The acid can erode skin if it touches it.
Certain diseases erode healthy tissue over time.
Erode can also mean to slowly reduce or weaken ideas, feelings, or qualities. This use is for things you cannot touch, like trust or power.
His trust in her began to erode after lies.
The long war eroded the country’s wealth.
Erode is used to describe how bad habits or problems can slowly destroy trust, power, or systems in society or politics over time.
Corruption can erode public trust in leaders.
Bad policies erode the power of the government.
Erode can mean to slowly destroy materials by chemical action, like acid or rust causing metal or paint to break down.
Acid rain can erode metal structures quickly.
The paint erodes after many years outside.
Erode can describe how old buildings or objects lose their surface because of weather or time. This is common with stone or metal objects.
Old statues can erode from the weather.
The stone steps slowly erode after many years.
