gnaw

verb

ˈnȯ 

gnawed; gnawing; gnaws

transitive verb

1

a

: to bite or chew on with the teeth

especially : to wear away by persistent biting or nibbling

a dog gnawing a bone

b

: to make by gnawing

rats gnawed a hole

2

a

: to be a source of vexation to : plague

anxiety always gnawing him

b

: to affect like gnawing

hunger gnawing her vitals

3

: erode, corrode

intransitive verb

1

: to bite or nibble persistently

gnawing at his underlip

2

: to produce an effect of or as if of gnawing

waves gnawing away at the cliffs

gnawer

ˈnȯ(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• bite (at)
• corrode
• eat
• erode
• fret
• nibble

Examples of gnaw in a Sentence

The dog was gnawing a bone.

He nervously gnawed on his fingernails.

Rabbits have gnawed at the hedge.

Rabbits had gnawed a hole in the hedge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Listen to this article State inspectors shut five Broward County restaurants and one Palm Beach County food truck last week, with issues ranging from roaches and rodents (droppings found on containers of flour, gnaw marks on sugar packets and rub marks on walls) to a lack of potable running water. —Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2025

Still, there’s great friction in this story line, because Bridger and Young’s dialogue is simultaneously so florid and pointed, and because the actors playing the Mormon baddies really gnaw on their villainy. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025

And a lot can happen the longer Congress gnaws on issues. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024

So were these new or the same rodents that gnawed into sugar packets in the dry storage room? —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gnawen, from Old English gnagan; akin to Old High German gnagan to gnaw

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing gnaw

• gnaw at

Kids Definition

gnaw

verb

ˈnȯ 

1

a

: to bite or chew with the teeth

especially : to wear away by repeated biting or nibbling

dog gnawing a bone

b

: to make by gnawing

rats gnawed a hole

2

a

: annoy, irritate

worry gnawed at me day and night

b

: to affect like gnawing

gnawing hunger

gnawer

ˈnȯ(-ə)r 

noun