erode
v.v. to slowly wear away or destroy something over time. This can happen to physical things like rocks or abstract things like trust.
v. to gradually wear away or diminish through natural forces or steady attrition. Often describes the physical degradation of soil or the metaphorical weakening of authority or confidence.
Heavy rain can erode the soil on a farm.
Constant scandals began to erode the public's trust in the local government over several years.
The relentless pounding of the waves continues to erode the soft limestone cliffs, creating dramatic natural arches that eventually collapse into the sea.
From French éroder, from Latin ērōdō.
The verb is both transitive and intransitive. In its metaphorical sense, it often pairs with abstract nouns like 'trust', 'confidence', or 'authority'.