gnawed; gnawing; gnaws
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 had 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
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
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
Kelsey passes around a bowl of clam shells with questions written on them as Liz gnaws on a corn on the cob.
—
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 June 2026
Mice can and will gnaw through most softer materials.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 14 June 2026
All of which raises one gnawing little question.
—Kyle Wagner, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Using its large, continuously growing incisors — which resemble those of rodents more than those of other primates — the aye-aye starts to gnaw its way through the wood.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 June 2026
Mice can and will gnaw through most softer materials.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 14 June 2026
All of which raises one gnawing little question.
—Kyle Wagner, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Using its large, continuously growing incisors — which resemble those of rodents more than those of other primates — the aye-aye starts to gnaw its way through the wood.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gnaw
Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnaw. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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