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
The Army’s latest estimate for its major parade to celebrate its 250th anniversary – which falls on President Donald Trump’s birthday – totals $40 million, including the cost of repairing streets in Washington, DC expected to be gnawed by tank treads.
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Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 3 June 2025
The shark gnawed on his surfboard, but Heller was unharmed.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
The four-walled hideaway sets up quickly to help campers escape the bloodthirsty swarm of mosquitoes, biting midges and other gnawing pests that can be an inevitable part of an outdoor stay.
—New Atlas, 30 May 2025
Much of this decision came down to a gnawing confusion over my own responsibility.
—Frances Dodds Samantha Desz Krish Seenivasan Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 3 June 2025
The shark gnawed on his surfboard, but Heller was unharmed.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
The four-walled hideaway sets up quickly to help campers escape the bloodthirsty swarm of mosquitoes, biting midges and other gnawing pests that can be an inevitable part of an outdoor stay.
—New Atlas, 30 May 2025
Much of this decision came down to a gnawing confusion over my own responsibility.
—Frances Dodds Samantha Desz Krish Seenivasan Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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Chatterjee notes that this is a brand with strong retention but declining acquisition potential due to eroding external perception.—
Jeff Fromm,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Many of his directives this term have closely mirrored Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda that explicitly prioritizes eroding LGBTQ rights.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
28 June 2025
Verb
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The successful hatchings come about a year after Scout ate two of his chicks as a first-time dad, leaving the pair with no surviving eaglets from their first nesting season, McClatchy News previously reported.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
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The calls came while eating lunch, while lying in bed at night.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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