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 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
Watch this 🔥 Not a chew toy: A dog sparked a house fire by gnawing on a portable lithium ion battery used to charge cell phones in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
—
Daniel Wine, CNN, 7 Aug. 2024
With dog harnesses, our test took on a more daily use angle, such as exposure to rain, gnawing teeth, and checking for wear like fraying or loose strings.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Then there was the second swan’s head, being gnawed on by the otter in a cove near Eola House.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 2024
The toy features soft, continuous non-toxic tubes for the baby to gnaw on, a center cube that doubles as a rattle, and a sensory experience when tiny hands explore the toy.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 20 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gnaw 
Daniel Wine, CNN, 7 Aug. 2024
With dog harnesses, our test took on a more daily use angle, such as exposure to rain, gnawing teeth, and checking for wear like fraying or loose strings.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2024
Then there was the second swan’s head, being gnawed on by the otter in a cove near Eola House.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 2024
The toy features soft, continuous non-toxic tubes for the baby to gnaw on, a center cube that doubles as a rattle, and a sensory experience when tiny hands explore the toy.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 20 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gnaw
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gnaw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Gnaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnaw. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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