gnaw

[ naw ]

/ nɔ /

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See synonyms for: gnaw / gnawing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw·ing.

to bite or chew on, especially persistently.

to wear away or remove by persistent biting or nibbling.

to form or make by so doing: to gnaw a hole through the wall.

to waste or wear away; corrode; erode.

to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.; vex; plague.

verb (used without object), gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw·ing.

to bite or chew persistently: The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone.

to cause corrosion: The acid gnaws at the metal.

to cause an effect resembling corrosion: Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of gnaw

before 1000; Middle English gnawen,Old English gnagen; cognate with German nagen,Old Norse gnāga

OTHER WORDS FROM gnaw

gnaw·a·ble, adjectivegnawer, nounoutgnaw, verb (used with object), out·gnawed, out·gnawed or out·gnawn, out·gnaw·ing.un·der·gnaw, verb (used with object)

un·gnawed, adjective

Words nearby gnaw

gnathite, gnathonic, gnathostome, -gnathous, gnatty, gnaw, gnawing, gnawn, GNC, gneiss, gneissoid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gnaw in a sentence

For many dogs, gnawing on things seems to help distract them.
Best dog toys to keep your pet happy and healthy|Florie Korani|August 19, 2021|Popular-Science
These are the kinds of questions that have gnawed at me throughout my 25 years in the tech industry.
The best way to grow your tech career? Treat it like an app|Ram Iyer|July 30, 2021|TechCrunch
What he’d “lost” by not hanging on as South Sea shares approached £1,000 gnawed at him.
Today’s Crypto Fanatics Could Learn a Lot From Isaac Newton’s Money Mishaps|Thomas Levenson|June 23, 2021|Time
The rodents gnaw down trees to create lodges and dams, and dig channels for transporting their logs to the dams.
Simple hand-built structures can help streams survive wildfires and drought|Brianna Randall|March 26, 2021|Science News

I think we’ve been greatly underplaying the chronic, gnawing anxiety we’ve had to keep at bay to function.
Vaccinated lives: 5 health experts revel in simple pleasures|Lena H. Sun|March 10, 2021|Washington Post
In the end, the ethical implications of using a drug to pull statements from otherwise unwilling people began to gnaw.
Would Truth Serum Work on James Holmes in the Aurora Shooting Trial?|Kent Sepkowitz|March 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Stanley Crouch on why there are so many predators “looking for some high-profile black female meat to give the gnaw.”
Michelle vs. the All-American Jackass|Stanley Crouch|March 25, 2009|DAILY BEAST
For three generations it's been a sort of a gnaw-bone, to be dug up and chewed on when there's nothing else.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
Then she lay down again, chuckling softly as she did when the mouse escaped, even though it was to gnaw her cheese.
Country Neighbors|Alice Brown
I began to gnaw it and play with it, and when Ned called out, "fetch it," I dropped it and ran toward him.
Beautiful Joe|Marshall Saunders
I know I am only the mouse, but I could gnaw through very strong cords.
Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo|E. Phillips Oppenheim
The animals stand in a group, and the mules gnaw at the frozen dung of former visitors.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sven Hedin

British Dictionary definitions for gnaw

gnaw

/ (nɔː) /

verb gnaws, gnawing, gnawed, gnawed or gnawn (nɔːn)

(when intr, often foll by at or upon) to bite (at) or chew (upon) constantly so as to wear away little by little

(tr) to form by gnawingto gnaw a hole

to cause erosion of (something)

(when intr, often foll by at) to cause constant distress or anxiety (to)

noun

the act or an instance of gnawing

Derived forms of gnaw

gnawable, adjectivegnawer, noungnawing, adjective, noungnawingly, adverb

Word Origin for gnaw

Old English gnagan; related to Old Norse gnaga, Old High German gnagan

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gnaw

Origin of gnaw

OTHER WORDS FROM gnaw

Words nearby gnaw

Words related to gnaw

How to use gnaw in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gnaw

Derived forms of gnaw

Word Origin for gnaw