gnaw

verb

ˈnȯ 

gnawed; gnawing; gnaws

transitive verb

1

a

: to bite or chew on with the teeth

especially : to wear away by persistent biting or nibbling

a dog gnawing a bone

b

: to make by gnawing

rats gnawed a hole

2

a

: to be a source of vexation to : plague

anxiety always gnawing him

b

: to affect like gnawing

hunger gnawing her vitals

3

: erode, corrode

intransitive verb

1

: to bite or nibble persistently

gnawing at his underlip

2

: to produce an effect of or as if of gnawing

waves gnawing away at the cliffs

gnawer

ˈnȯ(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• bite (at)
• corrode
• eat
• erode
• fret
• nibble

Examples of gnaw in a Sentence

The dog was gnawing a bone.

He nervously gnawed on his fingernails.

Rabbits have gnawed at the hedge.

Rabbits had gnawed a hole in the hedge.

Recent Examples on the Web

The frustrating situation gnawed on staff’s confidence and morale. —Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2024

Harbaugh in plaid, gnawing on some gum, nodding and beaming in the back. —Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 6 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gnawen, from Old English gnagan; akin to Old High German gnagan to gnaw

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing gnaw

• gnaw at

Kids Definition

gnaw

verb

ˈnȯ 

1

a

: to bite or chew with the teeth

especially : to wear away by repeated biting or nibbling

dog gnawing a bone

b

: to make by gnawing

rats gnawed a hole

2

a

: annoy, irritate

worry gnawed at me day and night

b

: to affect like gnawing

gnawing hunger

gnawer

ˈnȯ(-ə)r 

noun