adj

gnawing

NAW-ihng

adj

Severe, nagging, or hard to ignore — used of pain, doubt, or worry.

"A gnawing hunger kept him awake most of the night."

"She felt a gnawing sense of guilt about the lie."

noun

The act of biting or wearing away at something repeatedly.

"The gnawing of the mice had left holes in the skirting board."

How to Use Gnawing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA steady, nagging feeling (as an adjective) or the act of chewing away at something (as a noun).

Common pairings

a gnawing feeling gnawing pain gnawing doubt

more gnawing comparative, gnawings plural, most gnawing superlative

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A _____ hunger kept him awake most of the night.

From Middle English gnawynge, simply gnaw plus the -ing ending.

sawing pawing cawing drawing thawing clawing guffawing withdrawing