Thesaurus results for GNAW (ON)

gnaw (on)

verb

Definition of gnaw (on)

as in to chew

to crush or grind with the teeth please don't gnaw on that steak bone—it's very unseemly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnaw (on)

chew

Verb

Khat is typically chewed like tobacco, with individuals retaining it in the cheek and chewing intermittently to release the active drug, which then produces stimulant-like effects.

— Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Along for the ride in pouches behind its mandibles are spores of a fungus that are released as the insect chews through the wood.

— Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of chew

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

gnawing (on)

gnaw (on)

gnaws

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Gnaw (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnaw%20%28on%29. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of gnaw (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

prowess

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes