Gnaw At (Verb)
Meaning
Become ground down or deteriorate; "Her confidence eroded".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The doctor's warning about her health began to gnaw at her resolve to keep smoking.
- Financial troubles continued to gnaw at the couple's relationship, causing tension and stress.
- The constant criticism started to gnaw at his self-esteem, making him doubt himself.
- Her fears about the future gnawed at her confidence, making it hard for her to move forward.
- The memory of his failure gnawed at him, refusing to let him move on.