Gnaw is a verb with two related but distinctclearly separate or different from one another meanings. It can mean to bite or chew something with your teeth, and it can also mean to slowly wearto reduce or erode gradually through repeated action or time away or troubleto worry or bother someone emotionally someone or something over time.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /nɔ/
Easy pronunciation: NAW (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress falls on the only syllable.
Use the sense “to bite or chew on something with the teeth.”
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Gnaw Meaning
to chew at something steadily with your teeth
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to bite or chew on something with the teeth
Example: The puppy gnawed on the bone for hours.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Gnaw
Meaning 2
to slowly wear away or hurt over time
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to become ground down, weakened, or slowly deteriorate
Example: Worry began to gnaw at him all night.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- eat at — Works well in the figurative sense of troubling someone over time.
- gnaw at — A direct figurative use of the same verb, commonly used for a persistent feeling or problem.
- erode — Fits the sense of gradual weakening or wearing away, especially in a more formal or literal context.
- wear away — Works when something is gradually reduced or weakened over time.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Gnaw Synonyms
to slowly wear away or trouble someone over time
- eat at
- gnaw at
- erode
- wear away
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not mix up the physical meaning of gnaw with the figurative meaning gnaw at.
- Gnaw is often used in the phrase 'gnaw at' when something keeps bothering someone or slowly gets worse.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gnaw mean?
Gnaw usually means to chew on something with your teeth. It can also mean to slowly wear away or trouble someone over time.
What is a simple synonym for gnaw?
In the physical sense, a simple synonym is chew. In the figurative sense, common synonyms include eat at and wear away.
Is gnaw the same as gnaw at?
Not exactly. Gnaw is the base verb, while gnaw at is the more common phrase for a feeling, worry, or problem that keeps bothering someone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.