to eat away at

Examples

• All

• Neglect can eat away at the foundations of trust in any relationship.

• The constant stress from work is starting to eat away at my health and happiness.

• It's just-- this is eating away at me.

  The Thinning: New World Order (2018)

• Sick from the disease eating away at me inside.

  Saw (2004)

• It's eating away at your white blood cells and your count is very low.

  The Inconsiderables: Last Exit Out of Hollywood (2020)

• It's starting to eat away at what's around it.

• Maybe your conscience is eating away at your conviction.

  The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)

• An emotion that eats away at your soul.

  Stalker (2010)

• In my opinion, advisors with high fees are eating away at their clients' nest eggs.

  Blog text (26)

• Indeed, inflation has eaten away at the real value of pensioners' benefits over the years.

  Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

E

to eat

vsto eat away at

564 6.6

Gradually use up money or fuel

focuses on gradual damage or erosion, not general consumption or using up

E

to erode

vsto eat away at

83 4.2

Gradually make someone's trust, belief, or support weaker over time

is often used figuratively rather than as a neutral technical verb

C

to chip away

vsto eat away at

24 4.2

To make something smaller or weaker by removing small parts slowly

refers to gradual damage in general, not only by breaking or small pieces

G

to gnaw

vsto eat away at

18 4.9

Gradually make someone feel worried or less confident

is used for both physical and figurative gradual destruction, not only abstract things

C

to chip away at

vsto eat away at

18 4.6

Gradually make something weaker by repeated small actions

describes slow damage that can be natural or unintended, not only deliberate effort

E

to eat away

vsto eat away at

17 4.1

Slowly damages metal, rock and someone's confidence by chemicals or steady pressure

is used more often in figurative senses rather than physical chemical action

E

to eat at

vsto eat away at

• Informal

14 7.1

Gradually make someone feel worse or less confident

is used more broadly for gradual damage beyond just emotions

G

to gnaw at

vsto eat away at

7 6.1

To make someone feel worried or less confident for a long time

applies more broadly to gradual damage, not only to inner psychological wear

D

to do a job on

vsto eat away at

• UK

3 7.7

Damage or spoil something badly

describes slow, gradual erosion over time rather than sudden or severe ruining

W

to whittle away

vsto eat away at

3 5.9

To make something smaller gradually by cutting or wearing it away

covers gradual loss more broadly, not limited to cutting or removing small pieces

E

to eat into

vsto eat away at

2 6.8

To make someone feel more and more upset or angry inside

covers gradual damage more generally, not only the growth of negative feelings

A

to abrase

vsto eat away at

• Archaic

9.9

Wear away the surface of something by rubbing or scraping

is used more broadly for gradual destruction, not just surface rubbing or scraping

Antonyms

R

to restore

219 3.5

Return something like a painting or building to its original working condition

B

to build up

207 3.0

Increase slowly over time

How Damaging

to destroy

∞ 1.0

to eat away at

• Informal

25 4.4

to erode

24 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology