grind 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in effort
very hard or unpleasant work yard work is a real grind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in routine
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity the daily grind of a 50-mile commute was getting old

Synonyms & Similar Words

grind

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrīnd How to pronounce grind (audio)
1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to crush
to reduce to fine particles grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 standard measurement grind is the same across the entire sole. —Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2025 Bassy synths grind like metal guitars, buzzing with desire. —Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
The cusps on their teeth, paleontologists have noticed, represent precursors of the broad, grinding molars that later elephants would rely on to pulp vegetation. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025 In their place is the ability to grind and wall-jump, which seem to provide speed boosts if timed right. —New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grind
  1. scratch
  2. nerd
  3. effort
  4. routine
  5. rub
  6. grit
  7. sharpen
  8. polish
Noun
  • Founders are already wrestling with self-doubt, market uncertainty, and the immense pressure of building something from scratch.
    — David Nour, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • One challenge with creating a league from scratch, in Europe, will be the structure of player compensation.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of scratch
Noun
  • At a time when nerds were getting their revenge, most of them wanted to be Chris Knight.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
  • North Carolina failed to dazzle the recruiting/portal nerds.
    — Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of nerd
Noun
  • Since January, the Trump administration has sought to cut back on research funding as part of its efforts to cut government spending, which has left many scientists scrambling to figure out how to continue their work.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
  • As part of their efforts, the duo are trained to simply scare the animals off and run five to seven miles daily, rain or shine.
    — Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of effort
Noun
  • After her skincare routine, Olivia gets her hair and makeup done, steams her voice, and puts on her onstage outfit.
    — Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Adding an ice water facial to your routine can help individuals feel refreshed to face their day.
    — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of routine
Verb
  • Pearl rubbed Broome’s back as the cart took off down the concourse.
    — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Adding to its innovation, the 'Monaco' integrates honeycomb thermoplastic heel technology, providing convenience by allowing natural motion without stiffness or rigidity, rubbing away material in other shoemakers usually.
    — Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Then there’s Little Simz, who’s turning growth and grit into poetry on Lotus.
    — Okla Jones, Essence, 29 Mar. 2025
  • To become winners, Newcastle have had lose, both historically and this season, and Guimaraes has been required to grit his teeth and battle through.
    — George Caulkin, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of grit
Verb
  • Divisions of labor sharpened, with women's work increasingly taking place within the home.
    — Amanda Ruggeri, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
  • If managed well, this can be a constructive inflection point: a chance to sharpen CISA’s focus, streamline its operations and reinforce coordination with both the private sector and other federal agencies.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of sharpen
Verb
  • As part of its comeback efforts, Farfetch has been polishing the machinery of the business as well, slashing clearance and markdown activity, and extending its free returns policy to 30 days.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Buff and Shine Next, a buffing wheel polishes the pieces to remove any rough edges or scratches.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of polish

Phrases Containing grind

Browse Nearby Words

grinches
grind
grind (down)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grind. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on grind

Nglish: Translation of grind for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All