gnawed (at or on)

verb

past tense of gnaw (at or on)
as in picked (at)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnawed (at or on)
  1. chewed
  2. licked
Verb
  • When most of us think about edible seeds, our minds usually jump to chia seeds stirred into smoothies or overnight oats, pumpkin seeds roasted after carving jack-o'-lanterns each fall, or sunflower seeds chewed and spit out at a baseball game.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • As was often the case in college towns, the music scene and its cycling culture often chewed the same dirt.
    — Tom Campbell, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of chewed
Verb
  • Tuxedo kitten Paolina bounced onto my chest and licked my fingers.
    — Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Her entire face got licked clean off her head when suburban floodwaters breached the cardboard hull protecting Kath’s basement memorabilia stack a few months before I was born.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of licked
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.

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gnawed (at)
gnawed (at or on)
gnawed (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Gnawed (at or on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnawed%20%28at%20or%20on%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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