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
Using its large, continuously growing incisors — which resemble those of rodents more than those of other primates — the aye-aye starts to gnaw its way through the wood.
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Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Pastor John Mark Comer has won a massive audience by encouraging his followers to free themselves from the gnawing sense that there is always more to do, Nancy Walecki writes.
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David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Voles are likely to blame when previously-healthy plantings topple over for no apparent reason or when a tree is girdled around its base from gnawing.
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Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
If for some reason a coral snake does gnaw on you, its venom can cause paralysis.
—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Pastor John Mark Comer has won a massive audience by encouraging his followers to free themselves from the gnawing sense that there is always more to do, Nancy Walecki writes.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Voles are likely to blame when previously-healthy plantings topple over for no apparent reason or when a tree is girdled around its base from gnawing.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
If for some reason a coral snake does gnaw on you, its venom can cause paralysis.
—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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But Koppl traced a distinctly American lineage through a chain of precedents dating back more than 50 years, each one further eroding the market discipline that profit-and-loss accountability is supposed to provide.
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Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
Verb
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Don't forget to check the social media accounts of your local favorite eating spots for more deals.
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Many kinds of fly larvae eat dead or decaying tissue and may sometimes end up on meat, but New World screwworm larvae need living tissue to survive and develop.
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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