What does "chip away" mean?

To reduce or weaken bit by bit; often used with at.

What is a synonym for "chip away"?

Common synonyms include: chip away at, pickaxe.

Chip away

verb

verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb

1
To reduce or weaken bit by bit; often used with at. idiomatic, intransitive
"Iraneus contrasts the unity and integrity of these writings with the distorted, contextless citations of the Gnostics. He describes the code of textual harassment that allows these heretics to chip away at the Scriptures, […]"
2
remove or withdraw gradually: wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

chip away at pickaxe

Example

More examples

"Iraneus contrasts the unity and integrity of these writings with the distorted, contextless citations of the Gnostics. He describes the code of textual harassment that allows these heretics to chip away at the Scriptures, […]"

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