gnawing
Americannoun
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the act of a person or thing that gnaws.
-
Usually gnawings. persistent, dull pains; pangs.
the gnawings of hunger.
Other Word Forms
- gnawingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of gnawing
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at gnaw, -ing 1
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.
Citrus greening disease is caused by a bacterial infection that is delivered by the gnawing of the Asian citrus psyllid.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
Evidence includes a hominin femur marked by clear signs of gnawing.
From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026
A parade worker quickly pulled down the sign, but the statement made its mark, cutting through conversations about recovery and progress with the gnawing questions that continue to haunt so many Eaton fire survivors:
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026
AI could be one, as well: The very thing powering the stock market to records might be gnawing away at Americans’ sense of well being.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025
Yet the real reason why he didn’t step to Jimmy was gnawing at him.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
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.
