Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
As its name suggests, skunk cabbage flowers give off a musky odor that attracts carrion-eating flies and gnats.—Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 Groundskeepers tried using bug sprays and torches, but the gnats wouldn’t budge.—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025 These wipes protect against and repel mosquitoes, ticks, gnats and more.—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 June 2025 The Dyneema Composite Fabric 8 (DCF 8) tub floor extends 9 inches (23 cm) in height to better protect from blowing rain and ground water, while the properly tiny holes of the no-see-um mesh keep even minuscule gnats and biting midges out while letting air circulate freely.—New Atlas, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gnat
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English gnætt; akin to Old English gnagan to gnaw
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of gnat was
before the 12th century
Share