eat into

Corrode over time

To eat into something is to gradually consume or erode it.

Rust eats into metal; acid eats into stone.

The phrase commonly describes depletion of resources: Medical bills ate into their savings.

It suggests slow, persistent reduction rather than sudden loss—the way something gnaws away at a whole until noticeably less remains.

material

corrode

Destroy through chemical action

  • erodeDiminish through persistent friction
  • dissolveDisperse into liquid
  • wear awayGradually remove through friction

gnaw · bore · burrow · penetrate · pit · hollow out · excavate · etch · abrade · carve

corrosion

rust

Iron oxide coating

tarnish · erode · deteriorate · degrade · wear away · chemical reaction · metal fatigue · galvanic · cathodic · anodic

savings

deplete

Greatly reduce supply

  • drainChannel for wastewater
  • diminishTo make smaller
  • erodeDiminish through persistent friction

reduce · consume · exhaust · spend down · dwindle · shrink · use up · chip away · gnaw at · sap

time

consume

Take in fully

occupy · use up · waste · monopolize · drain · erode · diminish · schedule · deadline · hours

profits

erode

Diminish through persistent friction

undermine · squeeze · drain · deplete · margin · revenue · bottom line · returns · overhead · costs

Opposites
gradual depletion vs. accumulation

eat intobuild up

Grow by increments

add to · augment · accumulate · bolster · increase

gradual erosion vs. preservation

eat intobuild up

Grow by increments

preserve · protect · replenish · restore · add to

slow consumption vs. rapid destruction

eat intowipe out

Destroy completely or tumble

obliterate · annihilate · demolish · devastate · decimate

Family

eat, eats, eating, edible, eaten, eater

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G