erode
Whittle by attrition
Erode means to wear away gradually through natural forces—water erodes rock, wind erodes soil.
The word extends to any slow deterioration: Inflation erodes purchasing power, Trust between them had eroded over the years.
What erodes doesn't collapse suddenly but diminishes bit by bit until significantly reduced or gone.
Decrease gradually
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
- lessenReduce in degree
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- depleteGreatly reduce supply
shrink · fade · weaken · subside · diminish · ebb · attenuate · thin
Iron oxide coating
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- pittingForming small cavities
acidic · alkaline · electrolysis · reactivity · chloride · sulfate · salinity · dissolve
Air current outdoors
- rainWater dropping from clouds
- freeze-thawIce forming and melting repeatedly
- glacierSlow-moving ice mass
- acid rainPolluted atmospheric moisture falling
leaching · exfoliation · desertification · weathered · storm · tide · wave · current
Resistance between touching surfaces
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- scrapeRub harshly against
- grindCrush into particles
- scourClean by hard rubbing
rasp · scratch · sandpaper · sanding · abrasive · pumice · buff · polish
Decrease or refuse
- degradationDecline in condition
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- dilapidationState of ruin
decay · disrepair · ruination · collapse · weakening · atrophy · worsening · desolation
wane
Decrease gradually
deplete · shrink · fade · weaken · subside · diminish · ebb · attenuate · thin · recede
rust
Iron oxide coating
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
pitting · acidic · alkaline · electrolysis · reactivity · chloride · sulfate · salinity · dissolve · leach
wind
Air current outdoors
- rainWater dropping from clouds
- freeze-thawIce forming and melting repeatedly
- glacierSlow-moving ice mass
acid rain · leaching · exfoliation · desertification · weathered · storm · tide · wave · current · runoff
friction
Resistance between touching surfaces
scour · rasp · scratch · sandpaper · sanding · abrasive · pumice · buff · polish · rub
decline
Decrease or refuse
- degradationDecline in condition
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
dilapidation · decay · disrepair · ruination · collapse · weakening · atrophy · worsening · desolation · breakdown
canyon
Deep river-cut gorge
cliff · delta · badlands · butte · mesa · streambed · sediment · alluvium · scree · plateau
- undermineweaken, sabotage, subvert, destabilize, sap
- deterioratedecay, rot, deteriorate, decompose, crumble
- diminishingabate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, ebb
- wear and tearfray, crumble, chafe, scuff, tatter
- depletedeplete, drain, exhaust, use up, consume
- wash awayrinse, flush, sweep, carry off, dissolve
erodebuild
Create a structure
build up · accrete · deposit · accumulate · construct
eroderestore
Return to earlier state
rebuild · regenerate · renew · revitalize · repair
- river erosionWater wearing away earth
- soil erosionLoss of topsoil
- beach erosionShore loss from water
- soil erosion controlPreventing terrain degradation
- coastal erosionLand loss at sea edges
- coastline erosionSea wearing away land
erosion, eroding, eroded, erosive, erodes, erosional, erodable