gnaw

[ naw ]

verb (used with object)

, gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw·ing.

1. to bite or chew on, especially persistently.
2. to wear away or remove by persistent biting or nibbling.
3. to form or make by so doing:

   to gnaw a hole through the wall.

4. to waste or wear away; corrode; erode.
5. to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.; vex; plague.

verb (used without object)

, gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw·ing.

1. to bite or chew persistently:

   The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone.

2. to cause corrosion:

   The acid gnaws at the metal.

3. to cause an effect resembling corrosion:

   Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.

gnaw

/ nɔː /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by at or upon to bite (at) or chew (upon) constantly so as to wear away little by little
2. tr to form by gnawing

   to gnaw a hole

3. to cause erosion of (something)
4. whenintr, often foll by at to cause constant distress or anxiety (to)

noun

1. the act or an instance of gnawing

Derived Forms

• ˈgnawer, noun
• ˈgnawing, adjectivenoun
• ˈgnawingly, adverb
• ˈgnawable, adjective

Other Words From

• gnawa·ble adjective
• gnawer noun
• outgnaw verb (used with object) outgnawed outgnawed or outgnawn outgnawing
• under·gnaw verb (used with object)
• un·gnawed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnaw¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnaw¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times

Democrats’ task in the next several years, he said, will be to find better ways to speak to and remedy those gnawing concerns.

From Los Angeles Times

The New York Giants must feel gnawing regret about letting the spectacular Saquon Barkley go, and the Eagles don’t mind at all.

From Los Angeles Times

In watching Tarell soldier on while he creates, learning what his art should be as he wrestles with the gift of compassion, we come to understand what’s so aesthetically resounding in life’s gnawing incompleteness.

From Los Angeles Times

But like a million or so others in the UK, she succumbed to a disease that gnawed at her personality and cognition until it consumed her ability to function at all.

From BBC

Related Words

• annoy
• bedevil
• haunt
• irritate
• nag