corrode

This term describes a slow, eating-away process that suggests a gradual loss of integrity. It is most frequently used in industrial or scientific contexts to describe the degradation of metals, though it carries a cold, clinical tone compared to words like "rot" or "decay." When used figuratively, it describes a psychological or social erosion, such as a relationship being corroded by suspicion. In this sense, it implies a hidden, persistent damage that weakens a foundation over time until it eventually collapses.