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 of grinder

• submarine
• hero
• sub
• torpedo

Examples of grinder in a Sentence

ordered a meatball grinder from the beach's concession stand

Recent Examples on the Web

Dark beans tumble through grinders. —Nick El Hajj, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Make sure the grinder is clean and dry, as moisture can cause the ground flaxseed to spoil quickly. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026

There’s still developmental work ahead, but his length, athletic upside and grinder mentality give him a real shot to outperform his draft slot. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

This is the palette of the machine-made, that which is inhuman, and Duchamp would drive the point home in Coffee Mill (1911), a tiny painting of a grinder that expels a cascade of brown beans. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026

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