gnaw

verb
UK: /nɔː/
US: /nɔː/

  1. To bite or chew on something repeatedly, usually making a small hole or gradually wearing it away.

    1. The dog likes to gnaw on bones to keep his teeth clean.
    2. Rats will gnaw through wood and wires if they get into the house, so you must be prepared.

Synonyms

torment distress erode nibble chew worry plague
gnaw verb

  1. To cause persistent distress or anxiety.

    1. Guilt can gnaw at you if you do something wrong.
    2. The feeling that I had failed would gnaw away at my confidence for months after.
gnaw transitive-verb

  1. To keep biting something hard

    1. A puppy will gnaw on anything it can find.
    2. The beaver started to gnaw through the tree trunk with its strong teeth.
gnaw noun

  1. A state of persistent worry or distress.

    1. The gnaw of regret kept him awake at night.
    2. She felt the gnaw of anxiety as she waited for the test results.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "gnaw" is /nɔː/ in British English and /nɔː/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "gnaw": torment, distress, erode, nibble, chew, worry, plague.

Example usage of "gnaw": "The dog likes to gnaw on bones to keep his teeth clean.". More examples on the page.