chip away
Reduce by increments
To chip away is to remove material in small pieces, as when sculpting stone or breaking up ice.
The phrase usually appears with "at": to chip away at something is to make gradual progress through persistent effort.
She chipped away at her debt over several years.
Investigators kept chipping away at his alibi until it collapsed.
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- wearingHaving clothing on
- crumbleFragment gradually
deterioration · gradual · sculpt · carve · whittle · sandstone · limestone · granite
To make smaller
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- whittle downReduce incrementally
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- undermineWeaken by stealth
weaken · lessen · decrease · deplete · shrink · dwindle · wear down · nibble
Cut to shape
- chiselEdged carving implement
- sculptShape by carving
- whittleCarve by shaving layers
- shapeExternal outline of something
hammer · mallet · stonework · woodworking · marble · sculpture · artisan · craftsman
Developing slowly over time
- steadyFixed, not fluctuating
- incrementalProceeding by small additions
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
- patientAble to wait calmly
relentless · tireless · persistent · bit by bit · piece by piece · slowly · progressively · systematically
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
crumble · deterioration · gradual · sculpt · carve · whittle · sandstone · limestone · granite · sediment
diminish
To make smaller
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- whittle downReduce incrementally
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
undermine · weaken · lessen · decrease · deplete · shrink · dwindle · wear down · nibble · break down
carve
Cut to shape
shape · hammer · mallet · stonework · woodworking · marble · sculpture · artisan · craftsman · relief
gradual
Developing slowly over time
- steadyFixed, not fluctuating
- incrementalProceeding by small additions
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
patient · relentless · tireless · persistent · bit by bit · piece by piece · slowly · progressively · systematically · dogged
- undermineweaken, erode, sabotage, subvert, destabilize
chip awaydemolish
Destroy completely
obliterate · smash · annihilate · blow up · tear down
away, chip, chips, chipper, microchip, chipping, chipboard, chipset, woodchip