gnash
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to grind or strike (the teeth) together, especially in rage or pain.
-
to bite with grinding teeth.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
to grind (the teeth) together, as in pain or anger
-
(tr) to bite or chew as by grinding the teeth
noun
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing gnash
The House of Hades
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The Subtle Knife
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Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 1)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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 don’t know about you, but I gnash my teeth every time I hear someone has accused a fat celebrity, model or influencer of “glorifying obesity” for simply being happy and living their life publicly.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2023
“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
She wanted to scream, to gnash her teeth and tear her clothes and beat upon the floor.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
