grind 1 of 2

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
4

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

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

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 second half started out in the same grind-it-out fashion, although the Seahawks did manage to add another field goal and led 12-0 at the start of the fourth quarter. Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026 The whirlwind and the grind that is the Major League Baseball season is about to begin again for McCullough, with the Marlins reporting for spring training next week. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
These ingredients were ground and washed by hand, stored in ornate vessels and applied with slender sticks—often as part of an intimate, almost ceremonial process passed down through generations of women. Amelia Dhuga, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026 Nothing grinds my gears like shopping for luxury fashion pieces, only to learn that the fabric is made of cheap material (insert crying emoji). Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grind
Noun
  • In one-of-a-kind high-jewelry chokers and necklaces, the design is rendered in black diamond-like carbon, or DLC—a high-tech material known for its exceptional hardness and scratch-resistance that is often used in watchmaking—and combined with diamonds and yellow gold for an avant-garde look.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The grittiness of this powder can cause the stone to lose its shine or have permanent scratches.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • It was acquired by Brown-Forman in 1936 and promptly ruined by the company, according to today’s whiskey nerd standards, a few years later when it was turned into a blended whiskey (a category that was more popular at the time, and cheaper to make).
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Advertisement Especially for comedy nerds, the behind-the-scenes anecdotes about working with legends like Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder might be familiar.
    Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The former county clerk in Colorado was convicted of multiple crimes for letting someone access data from a secure voting system in an effort to prove unsubstantiated 2020 election conspiracies.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Adding a creatine monohydrate supplement to your routine is the most effective way to increase body and muscle stores of creatine to reap creatine’s health benefits.
    Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Think of it as future-proofing your travel routine—at prices that are too good to ignore.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Diners here can feast upon things like duck fat frites for brunch and espresso-rubbed steaks for dinner.
    Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
  • With the moody Moon in your 7th House of Partnership opposing cautious Chiron in your committed sign, mixed signals may rub sensitive spots.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Grit gave weight to feeling; feeling gave purpose to grit.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Doechii continues to grit her teeth while declaring that the accolades she’s earned along the way were from hard work.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Customer data will drive our decisions, sharpening our edge in delivering what is most valuable to our audiences.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
  • These concerns are sharpened by the shadow of Epstein, whose connections to powerful figures continue to surface.
    Lauryn Overhultz , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Set the scene Set on a leafy corner of Recoleta, close enough to the action but removed from the tourist hubbub, Sofitel is polished without being stuffy, the kind of place where everyone looks put-together even at breakfast.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Many are polished enough to appear legitimate at first glance.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grind. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on grind

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!