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
Sifting through the debris of a 125-93 rout at Paycom Center, Nikola Jokic identified a gnawing concern when comparing the Nuggets to the remaining teams in the playoffs.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
In his latest, Minervini brings viewers into the thick of the Civil War, only to find the same dazed souls and gnawing uncertainties that have always been his focus.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
The Army’s latest estimate for its major parade to celebrate its 250th anniversary – which falls on President Donald Trump’s birthday – totals $40 million, including the cost of repairing streets in Washington, DC expected to be gnawed by tank treads.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 3 June 2025
The shark gnawed on his surfboard, but Heller was unharmed.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 May 2025
In his latest, Minervini brings viewers into the thick of the Civil War, only to find the same dazed souls and gnawing uncertainties that have always been his focus.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
The Army’s latest estimate for its major parade to celebrate its 250th anniversary – which falls on President Donald Trump’s birthday – totals $40 million, including the cost of repairing streets in Washington, DC expected to be gnawed by tank treads.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 3 June 2025
The shark gnawed on his surfboard, but Heller was unharmed.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw
Verb
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Now, this fundamental principle is at risk of being eroded.—
Philippa Pham Hughes,
Time,
11 July 2025
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Deals like these, which require OpenAI to sell stakes in the company, erode the nonprofit’s control of the business.—
Orson Aguilar,
Mercury News,
10 July 2025
Verb
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The successful hatchings come about a year after Scout ate two of his chicks as a first-time dad, leaving the pair with no surviving eaglets from their first nesting season, McClatchy News previously reported.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
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The calls came while eating lunch, while lying in bed at night.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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