Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb gnaw

2 senses of gnaw

Sense 1
gnaw -- (bite or chew on with the teeth; "gnaw an old cracker")
       => chew, masticate, manducate, jaw -- (chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth; "He jawed his bubble gum"; "Chew your food and don't swallow it!"; "The cows were masticating the grass")
       => bite, seize with teeth -- (to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws; "Gunny invariably tried to bite her")

Sense 2
erode, gnaw, gnaw at, eat at, wear away -- (become ground down or deteriorate; "Her confidence eroded")
       => decay, crumble, dilapidate -- (fall into decay or ruin; "The unoccupied house started to decay")