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Definition of gnaw

gnaw

/nɔː/
gnaw
Adverb:gnawingly
•
Adjective:gnawing
•
Past Simple:gnawed
•
Past Participle:gnawed
•
Present Participle:gnawing
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gnaw Lexical Profile

gnaw Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To bite at or nibble something persistently, especially so as to wear it away gradually.

Example

"Beavers gnaw through thick tree trunks to gather timber for their lodges and dams."

2

To cause persistent distress, anxiety, or physical discomfort (often used with 'at').

Example

"Doubts about the project's financial viability continued to gnaw at the committee members."

3

To erode or wear away gradually as if by persistent biting.

Example

"Decades of relentless ocean waves had gnawed deep caverns into the limestone cliffs."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for gnaw

• Rhymes for gnaw

• Nearby Words

gnatcatcher
gnateater
gnatwren
gnaw
gnocchi
gnome
gnu

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English gnagan ('to gnaw'), of Germanic origin and akin to Old High German gnagan and Old Norse gnaga, probably imitative of the sound of persistent biting or scraping.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gnaw. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gnaw
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