as in eating
to crush or grind with the teeth
please chew your food thoroughly so you don't choke
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chewing
Across multiple studies, people who chewed gum did not remember lists of words or stories better than those who didn't, the researchers also found, and any boost in attention faded soon after chewing stopped.
—
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
And despite that famous nursery rhyme, woodchucks don’t like wood but get labeled a pest because of their hole-digging and habit of chewing on flowers and vegetable garden plants.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
The youngest chewing-gum seller would adopt the conspiratorial tones of a seasoned Kremlinologist, seeing signs and premonitions in every event.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Today, the jobs remain, but housing costs have greatly outstripped incomes, chewing away at affordability for new and old residents alike, in both urban and rural areas.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Rowan Atkinson plays a Ninth Doctor ready to hang up his TARDIS keys and marry his companion (Julia Sawalha), when the Master (a scenery-chewing Jonathan Pryce) and the Daleks throw a spanner in the works.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Dec. 2025
But pine needles and chewing on branches can upset doggies' tummies, and possibly lead to blockages, so keep an eye on the dog around the Christmas tree.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Playing behaviors in horses include nudging, lifting, chewing or swinging objects, and according to Applied Animal Behavior Science, such play can reduce stress and contribute to better welfare.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
And, Hudson, there's a very small moment where Shane is chewing on the drawstrings of his hoodie.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
And despite that famous nursery rhyme, woodchucks don’t like wood but get labeled a pest because of their hole-digging and habit of chewing on flowers and vegetable garden plants.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
The youngest chewing-gum seller would adopt the conspiratorial tones of a seasoned Kremlinologist, seeing signs and premonitions in every event.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Today, the jobs remain, but housing costs have greatly outstripped incomes, chewing away at affordability for new and old residents alike, in both urban and rural areas.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Rowan Atkinson plays a Ninth Doctor ready to hang up his TARDIS keys and marry his companion (Julia Sawalha), when the Master (a scenery-chewing Jonathan Pryce) and the Daleks throw a spanner in the works.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Dec. 2025
But pine needles and chewing on branches can upset doggies' tummies, and possibly lead to blockages, so keep an eye on the dog around the Christmas tree.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Playing behaviors in horses include nudging, lifting, chewing or swinging objects, and according to Applied Animal Behavior Science, such play can reduce stress and contribute to better welfare.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
And, Hudson, there's a very small moment where Shane is chewing on the drawstrings of his hoodie.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chewing
Verb
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While about 10% of adults worldwide report bloating, fatigue or gut pain after eating foods containing gluten, only 16% to 30% of those cases show true gluten-specific reactions, the paper found.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
While that helps some of us love and others loathe tastes like super-dark chocolate or black coffee, the evolutionary purpose of these receptors is to keep us from eating things that could harm or kill us.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Most of them spend a decent chunk of time nibbling on beetles, moths, mosquitoes, and the like.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
3 Dec. 2025
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Fabulous house, wonderful food, 30 companies trolling for dough, a raft of others nibbling and drinking.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Dig your toes in the sand while sipping a mai tai and munching on the restaurant’s famous Bimini Bread with Aruba Glaze and whipped honey butter.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
25 Dec. 2025
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Teeming with life, the preserve lets hikers admire vast meadows and tall oak trees, a pond with water fowl and even cows munching on grass alongside the roughly 3-mile loop trail.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Here's what regularly consuming olive oil can do for the body, as explained by dietitians.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
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For most people, consuming enough protein isn’t an issue, Taub-Dix said.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chewing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chewing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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