gnaw

verb

\ˈnȯ

gnawed; gnawing; gnaws

Definition of gnaw

transitive verb

1a : 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

2a : 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

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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

Members of the loose network often filmed or photographed their hunts, capturing gruesome scenes, including some in Washington that showed hunting dogs gnawing on dead or wounded bears. — Author: Evan Bush, Anchorage Daily News, "Over 100 charges filed in probe of Pacific Northwest wildlife poaching ring," 17 May 2018 Members of the loose network often filmed or photographed their hunts, capturing gruesome scenes, including some in Washington that showed hunting dogs gnawing on dead or wounded bears. — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, "‘A demented social club’: Dozens more charges filed in probe of Pacific Northwest wildlife poaching ring," 17 May 2018 The losses that gnawed away at the heart of the culture for years instilled cautious optimism last November at the sight of Hov and Lamar's nominations. — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, "Should Hip-Hop Still Take the Grammys Seriously After Snubbing Kendrick Lamar & JAY-Z?," 30 Jan. 2018 Neither were the rats spotted earlier gnawing on the carcass, or a possum seen in the area. — Rob O'dell, azcentral, "What dead pigs can teach us about missing bodies in the Arizona desert," 5 July 2018 Members of the loose network often filmed or photographed their hunts, capturing gruesome scenes, including some in Washington that showed hunting dogs gnawing on dead or wounded bears. — Author: Evan Bush, Anchorage Daily News, "Over 100 charges filed in probe of Pacific Northwest wildlife poaching ring," 17 May 2018 Members of the loose network often filmed or photographed their hunts, capturing gruesome scenes, including some in Washington that showed hunting dogs gnawing on dead or wounded bears. — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, "‘A demented social club’: Dozens more charges filed in probe of Pacific Northwest wildlife poaching ring," 17 May 2018 Members of the loose network often filmed or photographed their hunts, capturing gruesome scenes, including some in Washington that showed hunting dogs gnawing on dead or wounded bears. — The Seattle Times, OregonLive.com, "Dozens more charges filed in wildlife poaching ring probe," 16 May 2018 By the time Lux-Lee opened the floor to a Q. & A., a good number of attendees were on the floor, some changing diapers, others gnawing on stuffed animals. — Sophie Brickman, The New Yorker, "Talking Arms Control with Babes in Arms," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gnaw.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.