sabotage

9 definitions • 13 examples

to damage or destroy equipment, weapons, or buildings in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor:

The rebels had tried to sabotage the oil pipeline.

to intentionally prevent the success of a plan or action:

This was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the ceasefire.

the act of damaging or destroying equipment, weapons, or buildings in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor:

a campaign of industrial sabotage

The sabotage of 20 oil pipelines threatens a new surge in fuel prices.

the act of intentionally preventing the success of a plan or action:

They moved quickly to prevent further sabotage of their investigation.

He could face sabotage from officials who fear they might suffer redundancy.

to intentionally damage or destroy property:

Enemy agents had sabotaged the bridge.

fig. The bombing was meant to sabotage the peace talks.

to intentionally damage or destroy something, for example equipment or a system, that belongs to someone else, so that it cannot be used:

He claims the animal rights group sabotaged their vehicles and trailers.

to intentionally do something that stops someone from achieving what they want or stops something from developing as it should:

At that time the western aid programs were believed to be attempts to sabotage the Russian economy.

damage done intentionally to something, for example equipment or a system, that belongs to someone else, so that it cannot be used:

The oil giant said it averaged 221 oil spills in recent years, because of aging equipment and sabotage.

industrial/economic sabotage

the act of intentionally trying to stop someone from achieving something or to stop something from developing:

To prevent further sabotage of their fraud investigation, FBI agents moved quickly.