We report an investigation on the effect of stabilization agents and surface curvatures on oxidative etching of three classes of anisotropically shaped gold nanoparticles namely, rods, bipyramids and prisms. In particular, the dual role of the stabilizing agent CTAB in the etching process is explored, showing how it acts both as a source of bromine ions, accelerating etching and as a protection agent, resulting in anisotropic reshaping.