gnash

American  

[nash] / næʃ /

verb (used with object)

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

2. to bite with grinding teeth.

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verb (used without object)

1. to gnash the teeth.

noun

1. an act of gnashing.

gnash British  

/ næʃ /

verb

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

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

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noun

1. the act of gnashing the teeth

Other Word Forms

• gnashingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of gnash

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

Explanation

To gnash is to rub or grind your teeth together. A suspicious guard dog might growl and gnash its teeth. When you angrily grit your teeth, you can say you gnash them. People almost always gnash their teeth from anger or frustration, or in a display of ferocity. A terrible ogre in a fairy tale might gnash his teeth, and your furious school bus driver might gnash her teeth at the ruckus her passengers are making. Gnash is a Middle English variation on gnasten, "grind the teeth together," from Old Norse gnasta, "gnash the teeth."

Example Sentences

But it’s not the dirty-looking curs that run, snarl, bark and gnash their teeth behind fences when a visitor approaches that one needs to fear.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2024

“I hate him. I hate him so much it makes me gnash my teeth,” she said in the interview.

From Washington Post • Jul. 20, 2021

He says his daughters have seen him gnash his teeth when he talks about his father, but they also have heard him speak lovingly of the man who taught him compassion and other virtues.

From Washington Times • Nov. 14, 2018

For all that Courtois’ qualities are obvious, Chelsea must still gnash at the reality that Cech finds himself now in a position to emulate Eric Cantona by securing back-to-back titles with different clubs.

From The Guardian • Jan. 22, 2016

The quiet was disturbed only by the slup of soup and gnash of chewing, and his father waved his hand to try to drive the moths away from the chimney of the kerosene lamp.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck