Cool MateInterfere vs What about sabotage
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Interfere
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
What about sabotage
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Interfere
| Interfere | What about sabotage | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɪntəˈfɪə(r)/","/ˌɪntəˈfɪəz/","/ˌɪntəˈfɪəd/","/ˌɪntəˈfɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɪntərˈfɪr/","/ˌɪntərˈfɪrz/","/ˌɪntərˈfɪrd/","/ˌɪntərˈfɪrɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsæbətaʒ//🇺🇸 //ˈsæbəˌtɑʒ// |
| Meaning | To get in the way of something or someone. | The act of damaging or destroying something to stop someone from succeeding. |
| Example | I wish my parents would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. | The team's plans fell apart due to unexpected sabotage. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | seriously, directly, constantly, be allowed to, have a right to, attempt to, in, with | commit sabotage, sabotage efforts, sabotage plans, sabotage operations, suspected sabotage |
| Antonyms | assist, help, support | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Interfere' is often confused with 'intervene', which has a slightly different meaning., Learners sometimes use 'interfere' without a preposition, which can sound awkward., Using 'interfere' when talking about positive involvement instead of negative disruption. | Confused with 'sabotage' as a noun vs 'sabotaging' as a verb., Using it in contexts that don't involve intentional harm., Assuming it can be used lightheartedly in all situations. |
| Usage notes | Use 'interfere' in situations where someone or something disrupts another's activities. It's generally neutral but can be negative in formal contexts, like in work or legal matters. | Used in discussions about plans or actions; often implies intentional harm. It's mostly neutral but can have a serious tone. |
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Frequently asked questions: Interfere vs What about sabotage
What's the difference between Interfere and What about sabotage?
Interfere: To get in the way of something or someone. What about sabotage: The act of damaging or destroying something to stop someone from succeeding.
Which is more common: Interfere and What about sabotage?
Interfere is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Interfere: I wish my parents would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. What about sabotage: The team's plans fell apart due to unexpected sabotage.
Can I use Interfere and What about sabotage interchangeably?
Not always. Interfere and What about sabotage are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.