词：erode
英英释义：to gradually reduce something such as someone's power or confidence
例句：Our privacy is being gradually eroded today. The more convenience we enjoy, the less privacy we have.
2. 为什么选这个词？
“erode”可以作及物动词也可以作不及物动词，本义是“侵蚀、腐蚀”，经常引申为“削弱”。erode 后面经常接抽象概念，比如 erode power/confidence/freedom/sympathy/support/trust/privacy。用 erode 来替换 diminish/decrease/destroy 等词.
在军训期间，学生的自由得到了很大的限制，就可以说：
During military training, students' freedom is greatly eroded.
在科技越来越发达的今天，我们的隐私在不断被蚕食，就可以说：
Our privacy is being gradually eroded today. The more convenience we enjoy, the less privacy we have.
《经济学人》一篇关于科技对美国人生活的影响的文章中就出现了 erode：
erode social skills
erode Pheu Thai’s alliance.（这里搭配的是 alliance）
eroded public sympathy
3. 怎样学会使用这个词？
1）翻译下面的句子：
John 这次考试没及格，自信心非常受损。
Having not passed this test, John felt his confidence eroded.
（参考翻译：John failed his exam, greatly eroding his confidence. 或 That John failed his exam greatly eroded his confidence.）
造句：
正是这个这家公司的懈怠最终败光了自己常客的信任。
It is the company's inertia that finally eroded its regular clients' trust.
