erode

e|rode [ ı`roud ] verb intransitive or transitive *

1. ) to gradually damage the surface of rock or land so that it begins to disappear, or to be gradually damaged in this way:

High tides are eroding the coast.

a plan to plant more trees before the soil erodes even further

2. ) to gradually reduce the strength or importance of something, or to be gradually reduced in this way:

It is feared that international institutions may erode national sovereignty.

Western support for Yeltsin was slowly eroding.

a ) to gradually reduce the value or level of something, or to become reduced in this way:

A cut in interest rates will erode the value of people's savings.