grate

verb

Definition of gratenext
1
as in to annoy
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scratch
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sled grated along the bare pavement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grit
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound he grated the pieces of metal together

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 grate Rollins grated Breakker’s face against the steel cage as Bron collapsed. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 There’s something grating about finding out that the customer service representative on the other end of the line is an AI agent, not an actual human. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 June 2026 For instance, try finely grated vegetables like zucchini, carrots and mushrooms, panko, ricotta cheese, yogurt or tomato paste. — Tribune News Service, Denver Post, 24 June 2026 For others, his cantankerous nature can be grating. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for grate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grate
  1. annoy
  2. scratch
  3. grit
  4. bother
  5. scrape
  6. irritate
  7. rub
  8. bug
Verb
  • To make matters worse, the team also polled people on what behaviors annoy them most about other beachgoers.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • Gypsum can also be applied around the plants at a rate of about 5 pounds per 100 square feet and carefully scratched into the soil.
    — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
  • Older dogs stiffen up, scratch more, lose a step, and their owners want to help.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Showed toughness by gritting through ankle and knee injuries in the Final Four and title game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 June 2026
  • Then the coach known as the most impulsive man on an NFL sideline runs that stop sign, grits his teeth and breaks unbound into character.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of grit
Verb
  • The tequila shrimp empanadas disappear quickly, while the huitlacoche quesadilla folds Oaxaca cheese, mushrooms, roasted corn, and salsa macha crema into something deeper and earthier than most Midtown menus bother attempting.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • Maybe altering the letters bothered her most because publication inevitably makes the integrity of a letter—the message from writer to recipient—secondary.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Definition of bother
Verb
  • The tool scrapes third-party sources to compile additional information and context about individual tracks.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
  • Firms have been scraping Truth Social data for months, in violation of TMTG’s terms of ⁠service, ​according to a spokesperson.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 16 July 2026
Definition of scrape
Verb
  • Indoor air can carry particles and gases that irritate growing lungs and airways, making breathing problems and infections more likely.
    — Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026
  • Formaldehyde can irritate our eyes, throats, noses and lungs, but can also cause cancer — suggesting that exposure to persistent wildfire smoke could become more toxic as time goes on.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • But the comfort extends beyond the insole, as the soft fabric straps help prevent rubbing while also lending the sandals a more elevated look.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026
  • Known for her dry humor and blunt honesty, Jeana has a tendency to rub her castmates the wrong way by saying exactly what’s on her mind.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Instead, as Laura bugs her sister long enough about just forgiving her already, Mary explodes.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
  • The group alleged that as well as hacking their phones, journalists from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday tapped landlines and bugged houses and cars.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026
Definition of bug

Browse Nearby Words

grass (on)
grate
G-rated
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Cite this Entry

“Grate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grate. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grate

Nglish: Translation of grate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grate

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