as in masticated
to crush or grind with the teeth
please chew your food thoroughly so you don't choke
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Recent Examples of chewed
Under those tarps was a small camping tent, in theory to keep out mosquitoes and mice, although at some point mice chewed a hole through it, allowing mosquitoes to sneak through as well.
—
Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Both dogs eventually chewed themselves free.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Across almost two decades of ownership under Roman Abramovich, the club ruthlessly chewed through many of the world’s most famous and successful coaches, banking a steady flow of trophies and pressing the ‘eject’ button at the first sign of failure.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
And, the seeds need to be chewed or crushed—eating them whole won’t affect you.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Citrus seeds contain compounds called cyanogenic glycosides, which can release trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide, a naturally occurring chemical that, in larger amounts, can interfere with how the body uses oxygen, when seeds are thoroughly chewed or crushed.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
Upon our arrival to Wilderness Vumbura Plains, our guide, Kabo, skillfully navigates the Jeep between sandy hills and flooded grasslands, occasionally swerving to avoid tree trunks chewed down to their stumps by elephants.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
In one instance, the facility in Hartford reportedly had to close its kitchen for three to four weeks after rodents had chewed their way into the food supply, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Jan. 2026
An Ottawa Fire Services investigator determined the fire started after the family dog chewed on a heated skiing glove containing a lithium-ion battery.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Both dogs eventually chewed themselves free.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Across almost two decades of ownership under Roman Abramovich, the club ruthlessly chewed through many of the world’s most famous and successful coaches, banking a steady flow of trophies and pressing the ‘eject’ button at the first sign of failure.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
And, the seeds need to be chewed or crushed—eating them whole won’t affect you.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Citrus seeds contain compounds called cyanogenic glycosides, which can release trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide, a naturally occurring chemical that, in larger amounts, can interfere with how the body uses oxygen, when seeds are thoroughly chewed or crushed.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
Upon our arrival to Wilderness Vumbura Plains, our guide, Kabo, skillfully navigates the Jeep between sandy hills and flooded grasslands, occasionally swerving to avoid tree trunks chewed down to their stumps by elephants.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
In one instance, the facility in Hartford reportedly had to close its kitchen for three to four weeks after rodents had chewed their way into the food supply, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Jan. 2026
An Ottawa Fire Services investigator determined the fire started after the family dog chewed on a heated skiing glove containing a lithium-ion battery.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chewed
Verb
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On one day in late December, Eden barely ate all day.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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While neither is an effective big league pitcher at this point, those moves ate into the Yankees’ limited rotation depth.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For years, not having enough money nibbled at my aunt’s health.—
Jenisha Watts,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
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What Wear's cocktail reception at Kabawa brought together names like Lana Condor, Tefi Pessoa and Jessel Taank, who joined in the festivities as guests nibbled on oysters and mini beef patties (with goody bags presented by Maison BCBG on the way out the door).—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dilara, the protagonist of this début novel, is consumed by the absence of a stable home in her life.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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The program will also spotlight emerging media, from micro-dramas and social-first content to XR, immersive experiences and other innovative storytelling formats, and examine how today’s digital landscape is affecting how content is being created, distributed and consumed across Africa.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The night started out with a cocktail party in an airy and bright residence in the Mandarin Oriental, as realtors sipped drinks and munched on bites as live music played.—
Hadley Meares,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
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When Nibbled Garden Produce Is Okay to Eat Besides potential germs, there are a few other factors to consider before eating veggies or fruit from your garden that animals have munched.—
Amy Brightfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And, we may have been raised to care for and even be responsible for a sibling but be unable to prevent them from being swallowed up by their addictive or violent behavior.—
Geoffrey Greif,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Feb. 2026
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There have been at least 38 reports of and reviews mentioning the bristle detaching from the brushes, Weber said, and four reports of people who swallowed the metal bristles and sough medical treatment to remove them from their throat or digestive tract.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chewed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chewed. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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