grind 1 of 2

1
as in scratch
a harsh grating sound the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room

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2
as in nerd
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself

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grind

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry

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2
as in to grit
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound everyone in the car winced when the driver ground the gears trying to shift into second

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3
as in to sharpen
to make sharp or sharper better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree

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4
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure used the finest polishing paper he could to grind down the facets of the diamond before dusting it with a soft cloth

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5
as in to scratch
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface ground the rock against the stone wall

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grind contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of grind are drudgery, labor, toil, travail, and work. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When might drudgery be a better fit than grind?

In some situations, the words drudgery and grind are roughly equivalent. However, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When would labor be a good substitute for grind?

While the synonyms labor and grind are close in meaning, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than grind?

The words toil and grind are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When could travail be used to replace grind?

The synonyms travail and grind are sometimes interchangeable, but travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

In what contexts can work take the place of grind?

The meanings of work and grind largely overlap; however, work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of grind
Noun
The Magic are turning these games into the grind and the Celtics are getting stuck in the muck — just like the Cleveland Cavaliers last year when the Magic took them to seven games before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2025 But what sets this documentary apart is its willingness to dig deeper — into the artistry, the grind, and even the controversies that surround Lee Soo Man’s SM era. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
Both must be pursued simultaneously if the parties expect to bring this bloody, grinding war to a stop. Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2025 Twelve years of grinding as a touring act had also taken a mental toll on the group. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grind
Noun
  • Most were, like O’Neil, young and ardent admirers of the actor, who at that point was between movies and had a different kind of creative itch to scratch.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
  • And the project, essentially, was to build one of the world’s biggest football clubs from scratch.
    James Montague, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • Luck is the scion of the football program, a lovable nerd who happened to be the best quarterback in football, aka the perfect Stanford athletics niche: smart and good.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 1 May 2025
  • This is also a great game for nerd families to get together and play for an adventure or two after dinner but before bed.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • However, thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, including predator control programs, habitat restoration, and breeding initiatives, several kiwi species have seen rebounds.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • The project has been anchored by the relentless efforts of Wood and Orr, experts in rubbing elbows and working a crowd and the phones.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • The clip began with Kiser waking up and beginning her routine.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • But with most makeup products falling under the 3.4 oz limit, including foundation and concealer, Barratt rarely encounters any difficulties when carrying out her full glam routine.
    Isabelle Rodney, CNN Money, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • The project has been anchored by the relentless efforts of Wood and Orr, experts in rubbing elbows and working a crowd and the phones.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2025
  • It’s got a wide toe box, soft cushioning, and an upper that grips the ankles comfortably without rubbing the Achilles.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • After sweeping aside Monza in their first Coppa Italia outing, their road to the final had not been easier, gritting out an impressive win over Atalanta in the quarterfinals before beating an Empoli side who had eliminated Juventus in the previous round.
    Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Lee’s big swing came after Bailey Ober, working a day earlier than expected because of Joe Ryan’s illness, gritted out a start where nothing seemed to come easy.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • In that spirit, here are 11 essential tips to sharpen your skills, take the edge of the early slog, and unlock your full potential while going medieval on demons.
    Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • That framework could be exactly what Mbappé needs to sharpen his decision-making and maximize his presence in the final third.
    Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Polish with Microfiber Cloth Use a microfiber cloth to polish the mirror after squeegeeing.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025
  • Instead of replacing her creativity, AI amplified it by providing structured and consistent feedback, giving her more time to polish her jokes.
    Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grind. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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