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
Their tough teeth also grow very quickly, and gnawing helps keep them sharp and filed down to a manageable length.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
Sybil bears a tremendous burden and gnawing guilt.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
From luxury produce selling for nearly $20 apiece to babies gnawing on rib-eye steaks, food and drink extremes in 2025 reflected American culture in unique ways.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Doubt tears away at us like rats gnawing away under the floorboards in the house of being.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
Sybil bears a tremendous burden and gnawing guilt.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
From luxury produce selling for nearly $20 apiece to babies gnawing on rib-eye steaks, food and drink extremes in 2025 reflected American culture in unique ways.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Doubt tears away at us like rats gnawing away under the floorboards in the house of being.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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But that spending has also made the Dodgers and Major League Baseball the targets of growing criticism that money has begun to erode many smaller franchises’ ability to compete.—
Allan Smith,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
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His confession became a lightning rod for frustrations from workers who say AI is already eroding their livelihoods.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As organizers headed back to their vehicles Friday, Pepe de la Torre, 64, ate a red apple and gazed at the crowd.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Eric Richins reportedly broke out in hives and struggled to breathe after eating the sandwich, used his son’s EpiPen and took Benadryl before falling asleep for hours.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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