MEANING
To grind or press the teeth together forcefully, often in anger, pain, or frustration.
Use it for
Teeth working without food; a restrained attacker; bodily tension concentrated in the jawUse the repeated jaw action before the character or creature attacks.
Words that belong together
- gnash one's teeth
- gnashing jaws
- gnash in frustration
On the page
The creature gnashed its teeth behind the glass.
He lay rigid, gnashing his teeth against the pain.
A second row of teeth gnashed beneath the first.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- gnash / gnashes
- Past tense
- gnashed
- Past participle
- gnashed
- Present participle
- gnashing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- gnash / gnashes
- Present continuous
- am/is/are gnashing
- Present perfect
- have/has gnashed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been gnashing
- Past
- gnashed
- Past continuous
- was/were gnashing
- Past perfect
- had gnashed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been gnashing
- Future
- will gnash / gnashes
- Future continuous
- will be gnashing
- Future perfect
- will have gnashed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been gnashing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: horror. Usually takes teeth as its object; not ordinary chewing. It can suggest rage without implying a bite or a clinical diagnosis. Verb [base, third-person present, past, past participle, -ing]: gnash, gnashes, gnashed, gnashed, gnashing.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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