sabotage
gb/sˈæbətˌɑʒ/ us/sˈæbətˌɑʒ/
B2
English
szabotál, aláás, szabotázs
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
sabotage [something]
A few senior employees tried to sabotage the merger by leaking confidential documents.
Néhány vezető beosztású alkalmazott bizalmas dokumentumok kiszivárogtatásával próbálta szabotálni a fúziót.
Constant criticism can sabotage a child's confidence.
Az állandó kritika alááshatja egy gyermek önbizalmát.
The opposition accused the minister of sabotaging peace talks.
Learner examples
He sabotaged the project because he wanted it to fail.
Azért szabotálta a projektet, mert azt akarta, hogy kudarcot valljon.
Don't sabotage your own success.
Ne ásd alá a saját sikeredet.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse sabotage with simple accidental damage; sabotage is intentional.
Meaning
deliberately ruin or obstruct
Collocations
sabotage a plan
|sabotage a project
|sabotage negotiations
|sabotage a relationship
|sabotage someone's career
|sabotage someone's efforts
|sabotage the process
|sabotage the campaign
|deliberately sabotage
|try to sabotage
Synonyms
undermine (often means weakening something gradually or indirectly)
|
wreck (more informal and often stronger, meaning completely ruin)
|
disrupt (focuses on interrupting normal operation, not always with intent to destroy)
|
subvert (more formal, often political or institutional)
Antonyms
support (help something succeed instead of making it fail)
|
promote (actively encourage or advance something)
|
protect (keep something safe from damage or disruption)
Themes
conflict
|work
|politics
|relationships
Definition
to do something on purpose to make a plan, project, relationship, or system fail
To deliberately damage, disrupt, or prevent the success of something, often secretly or indirectly.
NOUN
B2
2
szabotázs
B2
Usage pattern:
sabotage of [something]; an act of sabotage
Police found evidence of sabotage at the power station.
A rendőrség szabotázsra utaló nyomokat talált az erőműben.
The company blamed the delays on sabotage by a former contractor.
A cég a késéseket egy volt alvállalkozó szabotázsának tulajdonította.
The failed launch was investigated as a possible act of sabotage.
Learner examples
The fire was not an accident; it was sabotage.
A tűz nem baleset volt, hanem szabotázs.
They found signs of sabotage.
Szabotázs jeleit találták.
Common mistake:
Sabotage is usually uncountable, but you can say “an act of sabotage.”
Meaning
deliberate damaging obstruction
Collocations
an act of sabotage
|political sabotage
|economic sabotage
|industrial sabotage
|suspected sabotage
|deliberate sabotage
|sabotage of the process
|sabotage against the government
|evidence of sabotage
|prevent sabotage
Synonyms
obstruction (focuses on blocking progress and may be less destructive)
|
subversion (more formal, often about weakening authority or institutions from within)
|
disruption (focuses on interruption rather than deliberate ruin)
|
wrecking (more informal and emphasizes causing serious damage)
Antonyms
support (help or cooperation rather than harmful interference)
|
assistance (practical help instead of deliberate obstruction)
|
protection (action to keep something safe rather than damage it)
Themes
conflict
|crime
|politics
|work
Definition
intentional action that damages something or makes a plan fail
Deliberate damage, disruption, or obstruction intended to prevent something from working or succeeding.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sabotage
IPA
GB/sˈæbətˌɑʒ/
US/sˈæbətˌɑʒ/
Syllables & stress
sab - ot - age (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sab)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sabotage
- Plural: sabotage
Verb
- Base: sabotage
- 3rd Person Singular: sabotages
- Present Participle: sabotaging
- Past: sabotaged
Expressions
cyber sabotage
1/sˈaɪbɚ sˈæbətˌɑʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
digital disruption or damage
using computers or networks to intentionally damage or disrupt digital systems
Examples
- The attack on the hospital network was treated as cyber sabotage.
- Energy companies are investing more in defenses against cyber sabotage.
- Investigators linked the outage to a coordinated campaign of cyber sabotage.
Learner examples
- Cyber sabotage can shut down important services.
economic sabotage
1/ˌɛkənˈɑmɪk sˈæbətˌɑʒ/
fixed phrase
damage to financial stability
actions meant to harm an economy or financial system
Examples
- The government accused foreign agents of economic sabotage.
- Critics called the sudden shutdown an act of economic sabotage.
- The law targets cyberattacks and other forms of economic sabotage.
Learner examples
- They said the attack was economic sabotage.
industrial sabotage
1/ɪndˈʌstɹiəl sˈæbətˌɑʒ/
fixed phrase
damage to industry operations
intentional damage to a factory, company, or industrial system
Examples
- The explosion was investigated as a possible case of industrial sabotage.
- The company increased security after threats of industrial sabotage.
- Officials said the equipment failure was accidental, not industrial sabotage.
Learner examples
- Police suspected industrial sabotage at the factory.
self-sabotage
1/sˈɛlf sˈæbətˌɑʒ/
fixed phrase
harming your own success
doing things that make your own success less likely
Examples
- Her habit of missing deadlines became a form of self-sabotage.
- Therapy helped him recognize patterns of self-sabotage in his relationships.
- Fear of failure can lead to self-sabotage.
Learner examples
- He wants the job, but his self-sabotage is hurting him.
- Self-sabotage can stop people from reaching their goals.