sabotage

Wreck from within

Sabotage is deliberate destruction or disruption of something—equipment, infrastructure, plans, or efforts.

The term often implies covert action: workers sabotaging machinery, spies sabotaging military operations, or someone sabotaging a relationship through undermining behavior.

The protesters were accused of sabotaging the pipeline.

To sabotage can also mean to undermine unintentionally: Don't sabotage your own success by procrastinating.

destruction

demolition

Deliberate structural destruction

  • wreckageDestroyed remains of something
  • damageHarm or impairment
  • ruinComplete destruction or collapse

dismantle · vandalism · arson · bomb · explosive · detonation · blast · incendiary · disabling · crippling

subversion

sedition

Inciting revolt against government

betrayal · conspiracy · collusion · resistance · underground · partisan · guerrilla · rebel · insurrection · agitprop

espionage

spy

Covert information gatherer

agent · mole · intelligence · counterintelligence · operative · handler · dead-drop · cipher · classified · surveillance

disruption

jamming

Blocking or wedging forcefully

blackout · stall · breakdown · interruption · obstruction · gridlock · derail · interference · bottleneck · delay

cyber

hacking

Infiltrating protected digital systems

DDoS · phishing · backdoor · exploit · worm · breach · firewall · encryption · cyberattack · botnet

self

self-defeating

Causing one's own failure

undermining · perfectionism · self-handicapping · resistance · blocking · paralysis · doubt · hesitation

workplace

slowdown

Reduction in pace

whistleblower · insider · disgruntled · industrial · Luddite · machinery · production · equipment · tools · factory

Categories
Opposites
intentional harm vs. help

sabotagehelp

Assistance given

aid · assist · support · assistance · facilitate

obstruction vs. facilitation

sabotagefacilitate

Make something easier

expedite · enable · grease the wheels · streamline · accelerate

destruction vs. construction/repair

sabotagefix

Repair or solution

repair · mend · restore · rebuild · protect

Phrases
Family

sabotaged, sabotaging, sabotages, antisabotage

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG