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 had 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 of gnaw

• erode
• eat

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

Doubt tears away at us like rats gnawing away under the floorboards in the house of being. —Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

These flying creatures may look scary, but the real monster in this cold and damp deathtrap is a highly infectious, bat flesh-decomposing fungus that will gnaw their wings right down to the bone. —Dave Malkoff, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025

Mice and voles will gnaw the tree from under the snow or use the cover of long grass or thick mulch. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025

Unfortunately, the wasps had already gnawed much of it, but that is not necessarily a bad sign. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for gnaw

• aah
• ah
• ahh
• aw
• awe
• bah
• blah
• bra
• caw
• claw
• craw
• daw

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