as in to erode
to consume or wear away gradually
time has gnawed that author's reputation to the point where he rates little more than a footnote
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Recent Examples of gnaw
Tabo’s mother’s gnawing sense of guilt is fully parsed and inhabited, even as the murderous compulsion of her son is left untouched.
—
Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local Rite Aid drugstore after discovering roughly 140 rodent droppings, gnaw marks and other evidence of a vermin infestation.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated July 11, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
Research has even proposed that the ability to butcher meat may have caused early humans to evolve smaller teeth and jaws than their chimpanzee relatives, who could easily gnaw on tough foods.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 3 July 2025
For her part, Janney plays Macy with lots of warmth but also a gnawing sense of disappointment.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local Rite Aid drugstore after discovering roughly 140 rodent droppings, gnaw marks and other evidence of a vermin infestation.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated July 11, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
Research has even proposed that the ability to butcher meat may have caused early humans to evolve smaller teeth and jaws than their chimpanzee relatives, who could easily gnaw on tough foods.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 3 July 2025
For her part, Janney plays Macy with lots of warmth but also a gnawing sense of disappointment.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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For capital-intensive industries, that volatility erodes the policy stability required for long-term investment, adding another layer of uncertainty to already fragile markets.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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But the brand’s relationship with Unilever eroded over the years.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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No doubt Nelson was in trouble, but referee Robert Boyle called an end to the fight as Nelson ate some hard combinations.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Making some art, eating some really good food, and then ending with a sunset at Blacks Beach.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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