as in eroding
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 gnawing
This, along with lunch, is the gnawing concern at the back of the critic’s mind.
—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
All of which raises one gnawing little question.
—
Kyle Wagner,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Elizabeth continues to be an infuriating character, interrupting with rude and unhelpful asides throughout the entire family meeting, casually gnawing on an orange slice as Greg and Katie have a heart-to-heart across the table.
—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
11 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
Things are kept mostly under wraps in this trailer, which spotlights the family vibe and the gnawing concern that something isn’t right, alongside jarring footage of a suburban street torn asunder.
—
William Earl,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
To distract you from gnawing your nails in anticipation, here are two books to add to your pile.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Logan Kilgore, in Aplin’s mind, was gnawing on a bad idea.
—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
All of which raises one gnawing little question.
—
Kyle Wagner,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Elizabeth continues to be an infuriating character, interrupting with rude and unhelpful asides throughout the entire family meeting, casually gnawing on an orange slice as Greg and Katie have a heart-to-heart across the table.
—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
11 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
Things are kept mostly under wraps in this trailer, which spotlights the family vibe and the gnawing concern that something isn’t right, alongside jarring footage of a suburban street torn asunder.
—
William Earl,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
To distract you from gnawing your nails in anticipation, here are two books to add to your pile.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Logan Kilgore, in Aplin’s mind, was gnawing on a bad idea.
—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnawing
Verb
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Each new channel brings new risk of eroding consumer trust if it’s not carefully managed.
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But experts and users warn that technology risks eroding authenticity and chemistry at the heart of real-world relationships.
Verb
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Winners of the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest have eaten a total of 2,541 famous franks, give or take a few, since the contest began in 1982.
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This can include water features with turtles or frogs, bird feeders that attract insect-eating birds like cardinals and chickadees, or keeping chickens.
Cite this Entry
“Gnawing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnawing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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