sabotaged

USAGE SUMMARY

The word “sabotaged” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to when someone deliberately interferes with something in order to cause harm or disruption. For example: "The criminal had sabotaged the company’s computer system in an attempt to try and shut down their operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There could have been huge benefits to Europe in such convergence, but the process was deliberately sabotaged by US intelligence agencies, working from the hypothesis that a tie-up between the EU and a democratic Russia would pose a major threat to American long-term economic interests.

The Guardian

It's a template quite common in homegrown comedies: the frustrated middle-aged man both encouraged and unwittingly sabotaged by a younger, dumber sidekick.

The Guardian - Opinion

Abbott sabotaged his own agency's pitch for a lucrative cigarette account and thereafter refused to handle any tobacco advertising.

The Guardian

Farmers don't just want to be here providing a food supply for the eagles For all the conflict, no white-tailed eagles have ever been shot or poisoned on Mull, unlike in Ireland where a similar reintroduction programme is being sabotaged by persecution, with a poisoned female found dead on its nest last month.

The Guardian

A quick paddock poll last year found roughly 80% of F1 folk were agreed: Rosberg had deliberately sabotaged Hamilton's chances of making it to the front of the grid, so crucial in Monaco where overtaking is more difficult than any other grand prix.

The Guardian - Sport

They sabotaged the Yemeni revolution with a "transition" deal that allowed the ex-president Saleh to stay in the country causing mayhem, and they are now backing Sisi's new dictatorship in Egypt – which can only create more problems for the future.

The Guardian - Opinion

Richter sabotaged that, crossly awarding zero to the other competitors and the full 25 points to Mr Cliburn, on all counts on each round.

The Economist

Its grandest iteration is that the city's elite has deliberately sabotaged its transport infrastructure to enrich themselves.

The Economist

Long-distance pipelines, easily sabotaged, will prove attractive targets to Uighur guerillas.

The Economist

Its operatives sabotaged UFW recruitment drives by telling farmworkers they would be much better off in a tough professional union like theirs.Nonetheless Chávez left a significant legacy which is insufficiently acknowledged by Mr Bardacke.

The Economist

They and other such hardliners have sabotaged previous thaws.The new strategy is said to have been approved by and co-ordinated with Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, who holds ultimate power.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sabotaged" when you want to emphasize a deliberate act of destruction or hindrance. Consider synonyms like "undermined" or "disrupted" if the action was unintentional or less direct.

Common error

Avoid using "sabotaged" to describe damage that occurred accidentally. "Sabotaged" implies intent, so use words like "damaged" or "affected" instead when there was no deliberate action involved.

Linguistic Context

Sabotaged functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb "sabotage". It describes a completed action of deliberately obstructing or destroying something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sabotaged" is the past tense form of the verb "sabotage", indicating a deliberate act of undermining or destroying something. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it’s grammatically sound and widely used in written English. It commonly appears in neutral contexts such as news reports and formal business communications. When using "sabotaged", ensure the action was intentional and not merely accidental, and consider related terms like "undermined" or "disrupted" for nuances in meaning. This word is often used by authoritative sources, with several examples from The Economist and The Guardian among others, ensuring its strong presence in quality media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subverted

Suggests undermining the power and authority of an established system or institution.

undermined

Indicates a gradual weakening or subversion, often through subtle means.

derailed

Implies causing something to go off course or fail to achieve its intended goal.

thwarted

Suggests preventing the success or fulfillment of a plan or effort.

disrupted

Suggests interrupting or disturbing the normal course of events.

scuttled

Signifies deliberately causing something to fail or be abandoned.

obstructed

Implies creating obstacles or difficulties that impede progress.

torpedoed

Implies a sudden and forceful destruction, similar to a torpedo attack.

crippled

Signifies severely damaging or weakening, often resulting in lasting impairment.

neutralized

Refers to rendering something ineffective or harmless.

FAQs

How is "sabotaged" used in a sentence?

"Sabotaged" is the past tense of the verb "sabotage", meaning to deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct something. For example, "The spy "sabotaged" the enemy's plans."

What words are similar to "sabotaged"?

Synonyms for "sabotaged" include "undermined", "thwarted", and "disrupted". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say a project was "sabotaged" if it failed due to incompetence?

While incompetence can certainly lead to a project's failure, using "sabotaged" implies a deliberate act of obstruction or destruction. It would be more accurate to say the project was "undermined by incompetence" or failed due to mismanagement.

What's the difference between "sabotaged" and "damaged"?

"Damaged" simply means something has been harmed or injured. "Sabotaged" implies that the damage was intentional and malicious. For example, a car might be damaged in an accident, but it would be sabotaged if someone deliberately tampered with the brakes.