1
as in loud
disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense
the mix of colors in that painting is terribly grating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
with a grating voice, she croaked a feeble "hello"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in annoying
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grating
Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
As an experienced home chef myself, these 10 picks under $35 have saved me hours chopping vegetables, struggling with pesky jars, and grating cheese.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
What stood out for me, however, was his total submission to the grating demands of retail politics.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grating
Adjective
Anything that was grating, cloying, or that took any amount of patience to appreciate was not for me (this year, at least).
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
As an experienced home chef myself, these 10 picks under $35 have saved me hours chopping vegetables, struggling with pesky jars, and grating cheese.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
The sounds of running water, hard objects (like buttons on a pair of jeans) tumbling around, and the machine's signals can be grating for those trying to sleep.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
What stood out for me, however, was his total submission to the grating demands of retail politics.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grating
Adjective
-
While the first two seasons often presented Lestat through structured tailoring and muted palettes, Season 3 arrives in a much louder world.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
They were all met with loud cheers on this Juneteenth evening.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
During the debate, Joe Biden frequently lost his train of thought, stumbled over answers, and appeared hoarse, fueling concerns among voters and party leaders.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
-
Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.—
Peter Ubel,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.—
Tyler Hayes,
PC Magazine,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
In a moment that left everyone scratching their heads, Zaire's Mwepu Ilunga broke from the defensive wall as Brazil was getting ready to make a free kick during their match.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed.—
Judy Bart Kancigor,
Oc Register,
11 June 2026
-
This is an album in which harsh, scraping sounds make sweet vocal melodies sound even sweeter, where that kindness of spirit may flicker but never quite fades away.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Ahead of the holiday, the City of Rancho Cordova is cracking down with much harsher penalties.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Members of his party who want even harsher border controls have splintered off to form Restore Britain, which has gained support from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who is vociferously backing it on his X platform.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
Platner, a gruff 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran, is trying to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins with a platform of economic populism, universal health care, labor protections, and anti-interventionism.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
This behavior isn’t just irritating or upsetting.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
-
How to avoid chiggers Aside from the potential risk of anaphylactic allergy and severe illness, chiggers are, well, irritating.—
Eva Flowe
June 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grating. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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