1
2
3
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
4
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
5
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
1
as in ranks
to arrange or assign according to type
grade these apples "extra fancy" and those "fancy"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
All counties except for Windham County earned failing grades for ozone smog.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Draftniks slap grades on the quality of the picks based on their perceptions of where the player’s talent meets positional need.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Here’s a reminder to not read too much into NFL Draft grades.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
Deer Path serves students in grades five through eight.
—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Inevitably, there are surprises, premature grades, draft-day parties, Mel Kiper hair jokes and lots of references to Kevin Costner.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Unlike public schools or Cedar Rapids Prep, the city's private schools can turn away a child for poor grades, or a history of misbehavior.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
Lakisha says Marquis loved supporting his students, and would give them rewards for getting good grades.
—Edie Peffley, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Scott Dochterman grades the pick Baltimore addressed its porous pass rush (30 sacks last year) by signing Trey Hendrickson this offseason.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Ipeirotis grades the exams separately, also with the help of AI.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Each chef has to make their best dish in 75 minutes, and each judge grades them on taste, creativity, presentation, and technique for a maximum of 20 points per judge and 60 points total.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Everyone, to some extent, grades their romantic partner on a curve, and relationships in which partners are especially inclined to do this may be particularly strong.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
That is a more suitable spot for the Jets to select Simpson, according to Kiper, who grades the outgoing junior as the second-best quarterback prospect and the 25th overall player in this year’s draft.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The Little Rock School District scored a C -- the same as 98 other districts across Arkansas -- when the state issued its first set of letter grades last week as part of a new rollout by the Arkansas Department of Education that grades each district individually, as opposed to only schools.
—Dmitry Martirosov, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2025
Pasco County Schools lists Mroz as a teacher at West Pasco Education Academy’s Harry Schwettman Campus in Hudson, which hosts grades 6 through 12.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
The campus serves refugee and immigrant students in grades 6-9.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
All counties except for Windham County earned failing grades for ozone smog.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Draftniks slap grades on the quality of the picks based on their perceptions of where the player’s talent meets positional need.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Here’s a reminder to not read too much into NFL Draft grades.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
Deer Path serves students in grades five through eight.
—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Inevitably, there are surprises, premature grades, draft-day parties, Mel Kiper hair jokes and lots of references to Kevin Costner.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Unlike public schools or Cedar Rapids Prep, the city's private schools can turn away a child for poor grades, or a history of misbehavior.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
Lakisha says Marquis loved supporting his students, and would give them rewards for getting good grades.
—Edie Peffley, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
Ipeirotis grades the exams separately, also with the help of AI.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Scott Dochterman grades the pick Baltimore addressed its porous pass rush (30 sacks last year) by signing Trey Hendrickson this offseason.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Ipeirotis grades the exams separately, also with the help of AI.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Each chef has to make their best dish in 75 minutes, and each judge grades them on taste, creativity, presentation, and technique for a maximum of 20 points per judge and 60 points total.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Everyone, to some extent, grades their romantic partner on a curve, and relationships in which partners are especially inclined to do this may be particularly strong.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
That is a more suitable spot for the Jets to select Simpson, according to Kiper, who grades the outgoing junior as the second-best quarterback prospect and the 25th overall player in this year’s draft.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The Little Rock School District scored a C -- the same as 98 other districts across Arkansas -- when the state issued its first set of letter grades last week as part of a new rollout by the Arkansas Department of Education that grades each district individually, as opposed to only schools.
—Dmitry Martirosov, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2025
Pasco County Schools lists Mroz as a teacher at West Pasco Education Academy’s Harry Schwettman Campus in Hudson, which hosts grades 6 through 12.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grades
Noun
-
Twenty local musical performances are on the lineup on two stages in the squares, along with the iconic lemon stick standing close by— a treat Cindy Thompson was the first in line for.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
In its early stages, melanoma skin cancer is highly treatable, with a greater than 99 percent survival rate.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Illinois parents are continuing to get their kids vaccinated at high rates despite ongoing controversy nationally about vaccines, according to data released by the state health department Monday.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
While the interest rates on federal student loans are fixed, many private student loans have variable rates that fluctuate over time, said Nancy Nierman, assistant director at EDCAP.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The change dropped recommendations that all babies should be protected against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV, dengue and two types of bacterial meningitis.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
On the advisory side, Formation is looking to lend its expertise across multiple types of work—pre-transaction consulting, M&A execution, long-term portfolio strategy—primarily at the intersection of financial and sporting decisions.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Joint Commission, widely regarded as the gold standard in health care, evaluates organizations through rigorous and often unannounced inspections, ensuring that patient care, safety protocols, and clinical operations consistently meet the highest standards.—
Ascend Agency,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Today, some of the most beloved musicals of the American theater can sometimes seem outmoded and vaguely inappropriate, since society’s standards have changed radically in the last 60 years.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Other steep mountain slopes in Alaska are moving down to the water faster than this one appeared to be.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
-
On the slopes of the Sierra de Cantabria in La Rioja, San Vicente de la Sonsierra is a village at the top of a hill overlooking the Ebro River, with sweeping views toward the setting sun in August.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The Phillies fired Thomson as the team ranks last or in the bottom part of the league in several statistical categories, like run differential, ERA, batting average and OPS, largely with the same roster as the previous four seasons.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While at Penn State, Trautwein, a former All-SEC performer for the Gators, recruited Miller out of Anna, Texas, as well as Hiller, who hails from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and ranks as the nation’s top interior line prospect.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ken Foster, a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, said there is typically a 3- to 6-month lag between an energy price shock and an increase in retail food prices.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
His public defender, Angelle Boudreaux, has argued in court papers that there is no basis to detain Marcoulier.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The book is divided into six chapters and makes a perfect keepsake to pass down to future generations.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
With nearly 90 chapters, it's been described by watchdogs as one of the country's fastest growing white supremacist networks, that are antisemitic, anti-immigrant, and anti-democracy.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grades. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
