1
2
as in nerds
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 sweats
very hard or unpleasant work
yard work is a real grind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in routines
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
1
as in rubs
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 grits
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
4
as in smooths
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
6
as in pounds
to reduce to fine particles
grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of grinds
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper.
—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Skaters ages 6-11 showed off their nose grinds, kickflips and wall rides to an enthusiastic early crowd.
—
Tony Le Calvez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
This is perfect for a small household that just needs enough grinds for one pot of coffee at a time.
—
Bestreviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
After using your coffee maker, clean the basin where the grinds go as well as the coffee pot using warm, soapy water.
—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
Finish with a few grinds of black pepper and serve.
—
Nancy Vienneau,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of fresh pepper.
—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2026
The base of the ski will be prepared with various grinds that respond to various snow conditions.
—
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
ABC News,
22 June 2026
With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year.
—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Decision speed grinds to a halt when every choice has to work its way through layers of process.
—
Nick Chandi,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Sorry for the rant, but this one really grinds my gears.
—
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Earth grinds to a standstill, with everyone glued to their screens as news anchors around the world react in real time to the shocking evidence.
—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
At The Happy Crane, Parry gives the char siu treatment to rich Iberico pork jowl, steams and grinds his own rice for the crab rice roll, and tosses Monterey abalone and Jimmy Nardello peppers into a smoking wok with XO sauce.
—
Becky Duffett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 June 2026
Not necessarily that the basketball becomes easier, but each minute is so tense, both teams are so focused and each possession is so tight that the winner is often decided by which team — or player — can execute when the game grinds to a halt.
—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
To craft the burger, the team coarsely grinds — twice — the leftover pieces of meat and fat trimmed from either a brisket or shoulder clod, then forms 8-ounce-thick patties, which are rolled in a housemade all-purpose rub and 16-mesh pepper and smoked for two hours.
—
Sam Flemming,
AJC.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
Tableside dishes are a highlight, including a seasonal classic Greek salad and mouthwatering whole branzino baked in a coffee-grinds and sea-salt crust, then expertly deboned and served to perfection.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper.
—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Skaters ages 6-11 showed off their nose grinds, kickflips and wall rides to an enthusiastic early crowd.
—
Tony Le Calvez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
This is perfect for a small household that just needs enough grinds for one pot of coffee at a time.
—
Bestreviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
After using your coffee maker, clean the basin where the grinds go as well as the coffee pot using warm, soapy water.
—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
Finish with a few grinds of black pepper and serve.
—
Nancy Vienneau,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of fresh pepper.
—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2026
The base of the ski will be prepared with various grinds that respond to various snow conditions.
—
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year.
—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Decision speed grinds to a halt when every choice has to work its way through layers of process.
—
Nick Chandi,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Sorry for the rant, but this one really grinds my gears.
—
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Earth grinds to a standstill, with everyone glued to their screens as news anchors around the world react in real time to the shocking evidence.
—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
At The Happy Crane, Parry gives the char siu treatment to rich Iberico pork jowl, steams and grinds his own rice for the crab rice roll, and tosses Monterey abalone and Jimmy Nardello peppers into a smoking wok with XO sauce.
—
Becky Duffett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 June 2026
Not necessarily that the basketball becomes easier, but each minute is so tense, both teams are so focused and each possession is so tight that the winner is often decided by which team — or player — can execute when the game grinds to a halt.
—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
To craft the burger, the team coarsely grinds — twice — the leftover pieces of meat and fat trimmed from either a brisket or shoulder clod, then forms 8-ounce-thick patties, which are rolled in a housemade all-purpose rub and 16-mesh pepper and smoked for two hours.
—
Sam Flemming,
AJC.com,
20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinds
Noun
-
Because the child had no visible bite marks or scratches and appeared to be unharmed, his family did not seek medical care.
-
The byproduct was irritated, itchy skin with the discomfort of scratches, scabs and the stink that accompanied it.
Noun
-
Brimfield is chaotic, yes, but there’s something to be said about an event that brings such obscure enthusiasm from every kind of character—from Brooklynites in search of single-stitch T-shirts to music nerds who specialize in vintage harmonicas.
-
The jerseys were being bought by people who weren’t just soccer nerds or fans looking for deep cuts.
Noun
-
But from then on, Nolte was never late and showed up every day in the same outfit — a trench coat, T-shirt, sweats and Nike turf shoes — with a notebook in hand.
-
Amazon has so many chic summer matching sets that go beyond cozy slouchy sweats.
Noun
-
Jupiter enters your 6th House of Work and Health, encouraging kinder routines that improve well-being and lighten daily tasks.
-
Hong Kong/Hangzhou/Beijing — When humanoid robots dominated the stage of last year’s Spring Festival Gala with sleek dance routines, Ai Lin saw more than a spectacle.
Verb
-
The nurse rubs circles on her lower back, clucking at the struggle of turning the pregnant body to the side like a lopsided gourd.
-
Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.
Verb
-
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.
Verb
-
Put another way, salt sharpens the tomato-y-ness of a tomato.
-
That outside passion sharpens judgment in ways coaching alone can’t.
Verb
-
The transparent, cooling, jelly-like formula features niacinamide, a form of vitamin B that smooths uneven texture and fades hyperpigmentation.
-
CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Retinol Serum smoothes and hydrates with a retinol formula that’s gentle on sensitive skin.
Cite this Entry
“Grinds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinds. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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