gnaw at
phrasal verb
gnawed at; gnawing at; gnaws at
: to be a source of worry or concern to (someone)
This problem has been gnawing at me day and night.
She says she's fine, but I can see that something is gnawing at her.
Examples of gnaw at in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its roots are gnawed at endlessly by the dragon Níðhöggr, who is said in some interpretations of the poem Völuspá to burst free during Ragnarök, the end of the world, carrying the bodies of men on his wings.
—
Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
Years ago, Luke might have gnawed at the problem alone for the length of the drive.
—Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
But another, more frivolous concern gnawed at her.
—Alessandra Schade, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
His decision to complete his degree soothed a regret that had gnawed at him for years.
—Maria Polletta, AZCentral.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw at
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Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
Years ago, Luke might have gnawed at the problem alone for the length of the drive.
—Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
But another, more frivolous concern gnawed at her.
—Alessandra Schade, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
His decision to complete his degree soothed a regret that had gnawed at him for years.
—Maria Polletta, AZCentral.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnaw at
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw at.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnaw%20at. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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