Pronunciation guide
How to pronounce gnaw
NAW - one syllable, rhyming with 'saw'; the 'g' is silent
US/nɔ/
nɔ
UK/nɔː/
nɔː
New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.
Common mistake
The 'g' is silent - 'naw'.
What “gnaw” means
To bite or chew on something persistently.
To trouble or worry someone persistently, as in doubt gnawing at the mind.
In a sentence
- Rats had gnawed through the sack of grain.
- The puppy will gnaw on an old shoe for hours.
Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.