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.
Deliberate structural destruction
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- damageHarm or impairment
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
- dismantleSeparate into parts
vandalism · arson · bomb · explosive · detonation · blast · incendiary · disabling
Inciting revolt against government
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- treasonBetraying one's nation
- betrayalBreaking of trust
conspiracy · collusion · resistance · underground · partisan · guerrilla · rebel · insurrection
Covert information gatherer
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- agentOne who acts independently
mole · intelligence · counterintelligence · operative · handler · dead-drop · cipher · classified
Blocking or wedging forcefully
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- glitchMinor system fault
- outageLoss of electrical service
- blackoutComplete power loss
stall · breakdown · interruption · obstruction · gridlock · derail · interference · bottleneck
Infiltrating protected digital systems
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
- DDoSTraffic flood attack
phishing · backdoor · exploit · worm · breach · firewall · encryption · cyberattack
Causing one's own failure
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- self-destructiveHarmful to oneself
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- underminingWeakening by covert means
perfectionism · self-handicapping · resistance · blocking · paralysis · doubt · hesitation
Reduction in pace
- work-to-ruleProtest through strict compliance
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- walkoutProtest by leaving
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
insider · disgruntled · industrial · Luddite · machinery · production · equipment · tools
demolition
Deliberate structural destruction
dismantle · vandalism · arson · bomb · explosive · detonation · blast · incendiary · disabling · crippling
sedition
Inciting revolt against government
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- treasonBetraying one's nation
betrayal · conspiracy · collusion · resistance · underground · partisan · guerrilla · rebel · insurrection · agitprop
spy
Covert information gatherer
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
agent · mole · intelligence · counterintelligence · operative · handler · dead-drop · cipher · classified · surveillance
jamming
Blocking or wedging forcefully
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- glitchMinor system fault
- outageLoss of electrical service
blackout · stall · breakdown · interruption · obstruction · gridlock · derail · interference · bottleneck · delay
hacking
Infiltrating protected digital systems
- malwareHarmful computer programs
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- ransomwareHostage-taking code
DDoS · phishing · backdoor · exploit · worm · breach · firewall · encryption · cyberattack · botnet
self-defeating
Causing one's own failure
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- self-destructiveHarmful to oneself
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
undermining · perfectionism · self-handicapping · resistance · blocking · paralysis · doubt · hesitation
slowdown
Reduction in pace
- work-to-ruleProtest through strict compliance
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- walkoutProtest by leaving
whistleblower · insider · disgruntled · industrial · Luddite · machinery · production · equipment · tools · factory
- resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
- dirty tacticsdirty trick, dirty tricks, dirty pool, foul play, cheap shot
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, crimes, misbehavior, transgression
- individual actskindness, generosity, bravery, courage, charity
- Resistance tacticsrefusal, defiance, rebellion, protest, boycott
- undermineweaken, erode, subvert, destabilize, sap
sabotagehelp
Assistance given
aid · assist · support · assistance · facilitate
sabotagefacilitate
Make something easier
expedite · enable · grease the wheels · streamline · accelerate
- self sabotageHarming your own success
- industrial sabotageDeliberate damage to production
- cyber sabotageDeliberate digital system damage