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

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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
Mamdani spoke for roughly eight minutes in a fiery speech about the history of the team, the grind to the championship, the heartbreaking seasons and the perseverance necessary to finally bring a title to New York after 53 years. Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026 Coffee is made with a coarser grind, and the water flows through those beans under less force. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2026
Verb
He’s been grinding through physical therapy. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2026 Artisan captures footage of each participant striking up conversations with women, and then plays it back for the group like a football team grinding tape. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for grind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grind
Noun
  • Made-from-scratch cheesecake doesn’t seem so hard when made as cupcakes where there’s no water bath, springform pan, and long chilling time required.
    Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • The report's authors said the case highlights the importance of seeking immediate medical evaluation after any direct contact with a bat, even if there is no visible bite or scratch.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • In the film, the villain is not the Harvard nerds who initially shun Elle, but the ex-boyfriend who never saw her as anything more than a cardboard cutout of a girl with blonde hair and big boobs.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Hunter Pence, a nerd at heart, spent money from his first paycheck to buy himself a gaming computer to play World of Warcraft.
    Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • But the effort was set aside after the onset of COVID-19, which caused massive disruptions across the Los Angeles Unified School District, said Michael Trujillo, a political strategist for Gonez.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Both countries have stepped up efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation and uphold international law in the strait, including hosting a summit with 51 other nations in April.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Simplify your week with easy-to-prep meals and fresh ingredients, delivered for a price that fits into your busy, real-world routine.
    Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • That said, the actress has a few staples in her routine that help enhance her glowy, youthful appearance.
    Grace Scollo, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Dozens of media outlets, from international agencies to local TV stations to true crime podcasters, were inside the Lexington County courthouse to again chronicle every forehead rub and quizzical look from the once rich and imposing Southern lawyer.
    Jeffrey Collins, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • The bumper was rubbing the tire and a headlight looked to be dragging.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Showed toughness by gritting through ankle and knee injuries in the Final Four and title game.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 June 2026
  • Then the coach known as the most impulsive man on an NFL sideline runs that stop sign, grits his teeth and breaks unbound into character.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Over‑the‑air updates can quietly fix bugs, refine transmission shift logic, improve battery preconditioning for faster charging, or sharpen the calibration of automatic emergency braking systems.
    Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Becoming a mother has definitely further sharpened that skill.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Parker Kitternan was busy at the console of the church's pipe organ, polishing his musical tribute for the weekend.
    Joe Holden, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • Wear it with flat sandals for a beachfront dinner or add wedges and simple jewelry for an outfit that feels polished enough for a special occasion.
    Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grind. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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