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
Steel wool can also be pushed into the gap since mice don’t like trying to gnaw through it.
—
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 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
Logan Kilgore, in Aplin’s mind, was gnawing on a bad idea.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Wild animals had gnawed through the pressurized canisters, releasing the chemicals inside.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 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
Logan Kilgore, in Aplin’s mind, was gnawing on a bad idea.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Wild animals had gnawed through the pressurized canisters, releasing the chemicals inside.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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In the process, however, one of the big distinguishing aspects of TV – the large audiences who once assembled to watch dramas, sitcoms and reality shows – has eroded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Florida Mobile Home Act offers little real protection against excessive rent hikes or misleading practices that erode homeowners’ equity and quality of life.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shots rang out from the back of the ballroom as attendees were eating their first course, several minutes after White House Correspondents’ Association President Weija Jiang delivered remarks.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2026
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Word got around and surfers came to the restaurant from all over San Diego County, gathered around the tables, ate burgers and swapped their tales.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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