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
If for some reason a coral snake does gnaw on you, its venom can cause paralysis.
—
Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Things are kept mostly under wraps in this trailer, which spotlights the family vibe and the gnawing concern that something isn’t right, alongside jarring footage of a suburban street torn asunder.
—William Earl, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
To distract you from gnawing your nails in anticipation, here are two books to add to your pile.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
The misery of last year appeared to gnaw away at Hamilton’s enjoyment of the sport.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Things are kept mostly under wraps in this trailer, which spotlights the family vibe and the gnawing concern that something isn’t right, alongside jarring footage of a suburban street torn asunder.
—William Earl, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
To distract you from gnawing your nails in anticipation, here are two books to add to your pile.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
The misery of last year appeared to gnaw away at Hamilton’s enjoyment of the sport.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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Given that nursing home costs can easily exceed tens of thousands of dollars annually — and often much more depending on location and level of care — those expenses can quickly erode a retirement nest egg.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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Consequently, rising inflation has steadily eroded real purchasing power, leaving 59 percent of Americans without sufficient savings to absorb a minor financial shock, such as a $1,000 emergency.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Houser grinded through a pair of long innings that ate into his pitch count, throwing 37 pitches in the first inning and 27 more pitches in the third inning.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 May 2026
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Cats become infected by eating raw meat, birds, mice or contaminated soil, and only cats that are actively shedding parasites in their stool can spread it.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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