Eat At (Verb)
Meaning
Become ground down or deteriorate; "Her confidence eroded".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The machine's gears wore out because they were not properly maintained and now had to be replaced.
- Over time their once strong relationship began to eat at their trust for each other.
- He started to notice that his inactivity had slowly started to eat at his patience level.
- The stress and long hours of caring for the sick slowly began to eat at her resolve.
- The rough seas weathered and ate at his boat, tearing away most of its bottom.