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
That’s gnawed-on, as in rodents.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
Guillermo del Toro has long told stories about the gnawing ache of being alive.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Dec. 2025
But there is no parallel resolution to Aggie’s relationship to her role as a mother, to her gnawing grief and its consequences.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
These flying creatures may look scary, but the real monster in this cold and damp deathtrap is a highly infectious, bat flesh-decomposing fungus that will gnaw their wings right down to the bone.
—Dave Malkoff, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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Erosion threatens land, heritage, and infrastructure The Holderness coastline has long been recognised as one of Europe’s most rapidly eroding coastal regions.—
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Public trust in the justice system is eroded when political cronyism is rewarded over fairness, when accountability is resisted, and when devastating errors are defended instead of confronted.—
Verb
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Whether lounging in white wicker rocking chairs or eating outside off wrought iron tables, some patio furniture will always be reminiscent of her.—
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Keep your stress low, stay balanced, and eat clean.—
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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