Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

gnash

/ˈnæʃ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.03 in modern English

Syllables: gnash
IPA: /ˈnæʃ/

9

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To grind (one's teeth) in pain or in anger.

Transitive verb

verb

To grind between the teeth.

Transitive verb

verb

To clash together violently.

verb

noun

A sudden snapping of the teeth.

Example Sentences

"gnashing your teeth"
"to gnash the air in fury"
"The dog was gnashing a carpet"
"There they were, boiling up in snowy spouts of spray, smiting and gnashing together like the gleaming teeth of hell."

Etymology

From Middle English gnasten. Origin unknown; the word is probably either Germanic or ultimately onomatopoeic. Compare Old Norse gnastan, Danish gnaske ("munch", "crunch"), German knirschen, German Low German gnirschen, gnörschen (“gnash”), Swedish gnissla (“squeak; gnash”), all of onomatopoeic origin.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: gnasten

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

gnashes (present, singular) gnashing (participle, present) gnashed (participle, past) gnashed (past) gnashes (plural)

Derived Forms

gnasher gnashing gnashingly gnashy

Phrases

gnash one's teeth gnash up weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth

Synonyms

chatter

Homonyms

Nash

Rhymes With

cash crash flash trash ash smash dash clash splash nash bash rash

Questions

How do you pronounce gnash?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈnæʃ/.
What does gnash mean?: To grind (one's teeth) in pain or in anger.
Where does gnash come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce gnash

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “gnash”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈnæʃ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “gnash”.
Repeat and practice — Say “gnash” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.