eats away at
Slowly wears down
To eat away at something is to erode or consume it gradually.
Rust eats away at metal; guilt eats away at a person's peace of mind.
The phrase emphasizes slow, persistent destruction: The acid had been eating away at the pipes for years.
Self-doubt eats away at confidence.
- gnawsBites repeatedly, persistently
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
- dissolveDisperse into liquid
- hollow outRemove interior contents
- disintegrateBreak into fragments
wear · wears thin · decompose · decay · undermine · picks apart · consumes · obsess · nagging doubt · corrosion · guilt · rot · wear down · regret · anguish · torment · inner demon · worry
gradual destruction vs. preservation/protection
eats away atpreserves
Cooked fruit in sugar
protects · safeguards · shields · conserves · maintains
gradual destruction vs. building up
eats away atbuilds up
Accumulates gradually
strengthens · reinforces · bolsters · shores up · buttresses