gnawing

[ naw-ing ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that gnaws.
2. Usually gnawings. persistent, dull pains; pangs:

   the gnawings of hunger.

Other Words From

• gnawing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnawing¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; gnaw, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

You have taken to gnawing on dried pasta, the only thing left in your larder after days of gorging.

From The Daily Beast

But the whole time they have a gnawing feeling in the back of their minds: Am I being a good parent by letting them do this?

From The Daily Beast

Laila lifted her foot above one of the air gnawing skulls and brought it down with a guttural grunt.

From The Daily Beast

Before I got fired I was gnawing at the edges of my expressiveness or my brazenness.

From The Daily Beast

On his way back, he noticed there were two others in the backroom, a couple of men gnawing on pretzels over beers.

From Project Gutenberg

Home, where nothing comes to distract me from my gnawing griefs and almost intolerable thoughts.

From Project Gutenberg

The poor Pompon, exceedingly perplexed, tugged at his beard, thoughtfully gnawing wisps of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a town as that has to be always moving back, and back, and back, because the river's always gnawing at it.

From Project Gutenberg

With all fed, there was silence save for gnawing teeth breaking through the hard crusts.

From Project Gutenberg