gnash

[nash]

verb (used with object)

1. to grind or strike (the teeth) together, especially in rage or pain.

2. to bite with grinding teeth.

verb (used without object)

1. to gnash the teeth.

noun

1. an act of gnashing.

gnash

/ næʃ /

verb

1. to grind (the teeth) together, as in pain or anger

2. (tr) to bite or chew as by grinding the teeth

noun

1. the act of gnashing the teeth

Other Word Forms

• gnashingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnash¹

1490–1500; variant of obsolete gnast, Middle English gnasten; compare Old Norse gnastan gnashing of teeth

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnash¹

C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse gnastan gnashing of teeth, gnesta to clatter

Example Sentences

They’ve gnashed their teeth this year even at budget proposals that would only modestly slow spending.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The first felt too cold and couldn’t hack how to modernize Morfydd Clark’s Ophelia; the second started strong but got soggy with its repetitive weeping and gnashing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the face of terror, you need to sway and smile to take a break from the weeping and the gnashing of teeth that’s the rest of the day.

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Calum Miller of the Liberal Democrats says he knows of businesses "gnashing their teeth in frustration that they just can't exploit opportunities to work with and trade with Europe".

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Or Disney’s “Frozen,” from 2013, where wolves gnash as they pursue the heroine.

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