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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Recent Examples of gnaws
The end of his tenure with the Cubs gnaws it him.
—
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaws
Verb
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When voter registration statistics appear to exceed plausible eligible-population benchmarks, public confidence erodes, even if there is an administrative explanation.—
Reardon Sullivan,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Feb. 2026
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That erodes the simplicity people often associate with owning physical gold.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Full of Cheddar cheese, bacon, and chives, these crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside balls will delight everyone who eats them.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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Extra points go to this docile, non-venomous spider that eats mosquitoes, gnats and flies.—
Sheryl DeVore,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gnaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaws. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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