gnaw
verb (used with object)
to bite or chew on, especially persistently.
has been gnawing
-
present perfect progressiveof gnaw (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Inflation has been gnawing at living standards and savings not only in Europe but all over the world.
From New York Times ● Sep. 30, 2022
Dorian Thompson-Robinson is back in the lineup and torched the Trojans in a close defeat last season that has been gnawing at him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2021
I haven’t told Adam this, but the uncertainty of what will happen has been gnawing at me.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2018
“Its achievement is that it tries to marshal the anger which ever since 1963 has been gnawing away on some dark shelf of the national psyche.”
From The Guardian ● Jan. 7, 2017
Now that little cankerworm, that has been gnawing at your roots of life for the last year or two, has done its worst, and you are perfectly free to go and make other mistakes.
From Robinetta by McAulay, Allan
