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
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.
And with the Dodgers comes a gnawing question: Are they bad for baseball?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
Then comes the second wave: a low, gnawing horror at what you might have done.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
He’s more comfortable in his Bed-Stuy apartment than at the Sunset Tower, exposed brick now behind him, his dog Wednesday nearby gnawing at her paw.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
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
Tried to do anything but think about his gnawing hunger for love.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
