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gnaws

  • present tense form
    of gnaw (3rd person singular).
    gnaw
    verb (used with object)
    to bite or chew on, especially persistently.

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.

See Examples For:

Artificial intelligence could be the boogeyman that gnaws at market share.

From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026

"Hunger is not something you can ignore or put out of your mind, it gnaws at your insides with increasing intensity," she continued, adding that hunger is particularly disruptive for children.

From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2025

The creature lifts its head, nearly dainty in scale, and contentedly gnaws a mouthful of ferns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2024

Dobbins was injured last year in a preseason game — a fact that still gnaws at him — and only now is he starting to look healthy enough to be a standout running back again.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 29, 2022

This scared piece of me gnaws at my stomach, makes it burn so badly that sometimes I can’t even eat; sometimes I double over, gasping in pain.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau