gnaws

present tense third-person singular of gnaw
as in erodes
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gnaws Kelsey passes around a bowl of clam shells with questions written on them as Liz gnaws on a corn on the cob. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 June 2026 The end of his tenure with the Cubs gnaws it him. Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaws
Verb
  • The best exits often happen while the story is still strong, before defensive thinking erodes momentum, talent and valuation.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • This undermines financial stability, erodes reserves intended for true emergencies, and increases the likelihood of necessary cuts or emergency measures in the future.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Because no one really eats onscreen anymore.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack the small intestine when a person eats gluten.
    Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gnaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaws. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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