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

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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
  • Budgets shift and priorities compete, and alignment erodes quietly unless leaders keep confirming it as conditions change.
    — Leslie Ellis, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As the high pressure ridge erodes between Saturday and Sunday, winds will roar out of the north over coastal Northern California.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of erodes
Verb
  • The average American eats roughly 200 pounds of vegetables and 100 pounds of fruit annually, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Infections can also occur when someone eats raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of eats

Browse Nearby Words

gnaw (on)
gnaws
gnaws (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Gnaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaws. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gnaws

Nglish: Translation of gnaws for Spanish Speakers

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