eat away
Slowly break down
To eat away is to erode or consume gradually.
Acid eats away at metal.
Rust eats away at iron.
The phrase often describes slow destruction: Guilt ate away at him for years.
Water eats away at shorelines.
Disease eats away at tissue.
The sense is always of something being diminished bit by bit over time.
Diminish through persistent friction
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- scourClean by hard rubbing
- undermineWeaken by stealth
wear · crumble · gnaw · dissolve · diminish · gradual · sediment · coastal
Bite repeatedly at
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- worryTroubled mental state
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
haunt · nag · burden · consume · obsess · fester · resentment · regret
Iron oxide coating
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- oxidizeCombine with oxygen
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- pittingForming small cavities
degradation · acidic · chemical · metal · deteriorate · galvanic · electrolysis · dissolve
Organic breakdown process
- decomposeBreak into simpler parts
- spoilDamage or overindulge
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- festerDecay or seethe inside
molder · mildew · degrade · disintegrate · putrescence · organic · bacterial · fungal
erode
Diminish through persistent friction
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- scourClean by hard rubbing
undermine · wear · crumble · gnaw · dissolve · diminish · gradual · sediment · coastal · riverbank
gnaw
Bite repeatedly at
torment · haunt · nag · burden · consume · obsess · fester · resentment · regret · conscience
rust
Iron oxide coating
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- oxidizeCombine with oxygen
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
pitting · degradation · acidic · chemical · metal · deteriorate · galvanic · electrolysis · dissolve · weaken
rot
Organic breakdown process
- decomposeBreak into simpler parts
- spoilDamage or overindulge
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
fester · molder · mildew · degrade · disintegrate · putrescence · organic · bacterial · fungal · damp
- undermineweaken, erode, sabotage, subvert, destabilize