nibbled
Ate in bits
Nibbled is the past tense of nibble—to take small, gentle bites: The mouse nibbled at the cheese.
It suggests delicate or tentative eating rather than aggressive consumption.
Figuratively, something that nibbled at you wore away at your attention or peace of mind: Doubt nibbled at her confidence.
Chewed persistently
- munchedAte with audible chewing
- snackedAte between meals
- peckedStruck with beak
- chewedCrushed with teeth
bit · crunched · noshed · grazed · picked at · sampled · tasted · chomped
Tried a portion of
- savoredEnjoyed with deliberate appreciation
- tastedPerceived flavor of
- sippedDrank in small quantities
- triedMade an attempt
flavor · morsel · delicate · dainty · palate · appetizer · hors d'oeuvre · canapé
Slow to act
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- gingerlyWith wary caution
- delicatelyIn a careful, subtle manner
daintily · tentatively · lightly · sparingly · picked at · toyed with · half-hearted · reluctant
Damaged by use
- erodedGradually degraded by elements
- chippedBroken at edge
- frayedUnraveled at edges
- eaten awayGradually destroyed by corrosion
weathered · corroded · degraded · diminished · whittled · undermined · encroached · chipped away
gnawed
Chewed persistently
chewed · bit · crunched · noshed · grazed · picked at · sampled · tasted · chomped · nipped
sampled
Tried a portion of
tried · flavor · morsel · delicate · dainty · palate · appetizer · hors d'oeuvre · canapé · tidbit
hesitant
Slow to act
delicately · daintily · tentatively · lightly · sparingly · picked at · toyed with · half-hearted · reluctant · unenthusiastic
worn
Damaged by use
eaten away · weathered · corroded · degraded · diminished · whittled · undermined · encroached · chipped away
nibbleddevoured
Ate hungrily and completely
gobbled · wolfed down · gorged · gulped · chomped
nibbleddevoured
Ate hungrily and completely
polished off · finished · ate up · finished off · untouched