gnawing

severe or intense

• Engleitner found the constant gnawing hunger harder and harder to bear. When the rations eventually increased again and the prisoners were given stew, it did not make much difference to Engleitner.

present participle and gerund of gnawform-ofgerundparticiple

The process by which something is gnawed.

• the gnawings of mice

A sensation of being gnawed.

• The spirit of slavery raves under tormenting gnawings, and casts about in blind phrenzy for something to ease, or even to mock them.
• "If I made them suffer the pains of exile, I would not let them endure also the gnawings of starvation.