GRADES Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

grades 1 of 2

noun

plural of grade

as in stages

an individual part of a process, series, or ranking just one grade removed from completion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in rates

degree of excellence only motor oil of the highest grade for his fancy sports car

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in types

one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic there are various grades of wool to consider when selecting a fabric

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in standards

something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared that painting just doesn't make the grade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in slopes

the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the hill rises at a seven percent grade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grades

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grade

as in ranks

to arrange or assign according to type grade these apples "extra fancy" and those "fancy"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in is

to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes believe it or not, that music grades pretty high with young teens

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 grades

Noun

Texas public districts are subject to a TEA takeover if one of their campuses receives five consecutive F grades in the state’s annual A-F Accountability rating system. — Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026 In Virginia, where one of four hijacked planes crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11, social studies standards require addressing 9/11 in middle and upper grades. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026 Students in fourth, sixth and eighth grades are assessed annually in the physical fitness assessment, according to the CSDE. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026 The university noted that in 2019, Illinois passed a law requiring a semester of civics education for public school students from grades six through eight. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026 His Open Command score fits better with his command grades, which were always plus, and that makes sense. — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Operating inside Loehmann’s Plaza Shopping Center, the business provides hands-on math assistance and learning for students in grades K-12. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026 In 2011, the school became Bethesda Academy, a college preparatory school for boys in grades 6-12. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The numbers are as of February 2026, and refer to total membership for grades from prekindergarten to 12th. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

But how does this ranking compare to scores from Leapfrog, a watchdog organization that grades hospitals on safety? — Eva Flowe august 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026 Marquez grades well on rival teams’ models, according to analysts with several teams who were granted anonymity to speak freely. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 24 July 2026 In addition to the zones, the board must decide which grades the new West High School will initially serve. — Arkansas Online, 16 July 2026 The 4Cs is the standard GIA grading scale for diamonds, which grades on cut, color, clarity, and carat size. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 22 May 2026 The report grades medical care facilities on a scale from A to F, with A being the highest grade and F the lowest. — Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026 Mississippi grades its schools A to F and sends coaches to train teachers in low-performing ones. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 11 May 2026 The additional verification comes in the form of a second LLM that grades the output from the first LLM. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2026 Ipeirotis grades the exams separately, also with the help of AI. — Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grades

Noun

The new equipment was announced at an industry conference in Wuxi, China, on September 2 and covers several key stages of semiconductor production.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
The defender sustained the injuries following a late challenge from Van Bommel, 22, in the final stages of the league match at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

— Ali Rampling, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of stages

Noun

That becomes increasingly important as production rates climb.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Statewide data show that students experiencing homelessness have among the highest rates of chronic absenteeism at about 35%, far above the state figure of 19%.

— Francesca Pinney, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of rates

Noun

Prices for most types of petroleum products have gone up since the war with Iran began in late February, amid limits on how much could flow through the Strait of Hormuz.

— Willa Rubin, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
The drag system handles up to 15 pounds – enough for most types of fish in lakes and ponds.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of types

Noun

Inspectors have found hundreds of allegedly fictitious facilities, while at least 833 kitchens have been shut down for failing to meet hygiene and sanitation standards.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Both choices will serve students when faculty are clear about their ambitions and standards.

— Sian Leah Beilock, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of standards

Noun

Our final stop was Kahlenberg, a hilltop on the city’s northern edge that offers sweeping views over the skyline, the Danube River winding through the city below and vineyards spilling down the surrounding slopes.

— Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2026
At 3,400 feet in the Allegheny Mountains, the Glades exist in a place where cold air sinks from the surrounding mountain slopes into low hollows—aptly called frost pockets.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of slopes

Verb

While Detroit currently has enough financial wiggle room to not worry about exceeding the luxury tax, there is the NBA repeater tax levied to teams that go over the luxury tax in at least three out of four seasons.

— Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Then there is the issue of keeping the system in a quantum state.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of is

Noun

Some chapters in From Inside Out are strictly based on the audience sharing the experience of some of my protagonists in being in the buildings of Peter Zumthor.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Further chapters of the collaboration will be revealed in the coming months, Birkenstock said.

— Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of chapters

Browse Nearby Words

graded

grades

gradient

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Grades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grades. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of grades

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

patina

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes