gnaws

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 If an owner reacts strongly every time the cat gnaws on a cord, the cat may learn that chewing gets a response. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 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
  1. erodes
  2. eats
Verb
  • Financial privacy erodes gradually through risk assessments, compliance obligations, information sharing partnerships and international standards presented as technical rather than political.
    — Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 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
Definition of erodes
Verb
  • Cyclospora infections typically occur when someone eats raw produce that has been contaminated with fecal material.
    — Eva Flowe July 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
  • The stocky species, up to 11 inches long, sometimes out-competes or eats other lizards, including brown anoles.
    — Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026
Definition of eats

Browse Nearby Words

gnaw (on)
gnaws
gnaws (at)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gnaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaws. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on gnaws

Nglish: Translation of gnaws for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All