Gnawing Meaning in English
word · lemma: gnaw
ˈnɔɪŋ
NAW-ing
nˈɔːɹɪŋ
NAW-ring
Definition
Describes a feeling, pain, or sensation that does not go away and is often uncomfortable or worrying, like a dull ache or persistent worry.
Usage & Nuances
Commonly appears before nouns: 'gnawing pain', 'gnawing doubt', 'gnawing feeling'. Used for negative sensations that linger, rarely for physical biting. More formal or literary than everyday speech.
Spanish: persistente (sensación) - punzante (dolor)Portuguese (BR): persistente (sensação) - corroendoPortuguese (PT): persistente (sensação) - corroendoChinese (Simplified): 持续的（感觉）- 难以消除的（痛苦）Chinese (Traditional): 持續的（感覺）- 難以消除的（痛苦）Hindi: लगातार (भावना) - चुभती (पीड़ा)Arabic: مُلحّ (إحساس) - يُنغِّص (ألم)Bengali: কুরে খাওয়া - স্থায়ী (ব্যথা/উদ্বেগ)Russian: грызущий - мучительный (затяжной)Japanese: うずくような - 絶え間ない (痛み・不安)Vietnamese: âm ỉ - dai dẳng (đau/lo lắng)Korean: 지속적인 - 쑤시는 (통증/걱정)Turkish: içten içe kemiren - geçmeyen (ağrı/endişe)Urdu: کچوکے دینے والا - مسلسل (درد/تشویش)Indonesian: menggerogoti - rasa berdenyut (nyeri/kekhawatiran)
Example Sentences
He felt a gnawing pain in his stomach.
basic
She can't shake the gnawing feeling that something is wrong.
basic
A gnawing doubt kept him awake all night.
basic
There's this gnawing worry in the back of my mind I can't ignore.
natural
That gnawing hunger told him it was time for lunch.
natural
Even after the problem was solved, the gnawing sense of guilt wouldn't leave him.
natural