grinder

noun

grind·​er ˈgrīn-dər 

1

a

: molar

b

grinders plural : teeth

2

: one that grinds

3

: a machine or device for grinding

4

: submarine entry 2 sense 2

5

: an athlete who succeeds through hard work and determination rather than exceptional skill

Synonyms

• Cuban sandwich
• hero
• hoagie
• hoagy
• Italian sandwich
• po'boy
• poor boy
• sub
• submarine
• torpedo

Examples of grinder in a Sentence

ordered a meatball grinder from the beach's concession stand

Recent Examples on the Web

Set in rural Norway, Still Breathing follows four young hospital interns — Petra, Joakim, Ashan, and Kissy — thrown into the relentless grinder of emergency medicine. —John Hopewell, Variety, 27 May 2025

Just swipe the card, dump the fresh beans into the grinder, then push the button. —Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 24 May 2025

In theory the family are entitled to 5 million rubles – and bizarrely enough, Russian officials even give gifts of meat grinders to the mothers of troops killed in action as grisly recognition of their sacrifice -- but payment is often withheld. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

He's supposed to take a metal grinder to my knee cap. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing grinder

• organ-grinder

Rhymes for grinder

• binder
• blinder
• finder
• kinder
• minder
• pinder
• bookbinder
• factfinder
• pathfinder
• reminder
• sidewinder
• viewfinder

Kids Definition

grinder

noun

grind·​er ˈgrīn-dər 

1

: one that grinds

2

: a large sandwich on a long split roll