GRATES Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

grates

verb

present tense third-person singular of grate

as in annoys

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scratches

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sled grated along the bare pavement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grits

to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound he grated the pieces of metal together

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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 grates Athletes do miss a lot of classes, which grates on professors. — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026 Made out of stainless steel, the grater effortlessly zests citrus, shreds hard cheeses, and grates fresh spices. — Mariette Williams, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2026 There’s the studio version, which has some really interesting production, with Meg’s shuddering percussion that eventually grates and distracts, and Jack’s very chunky guitar. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 After seasoning the steak, Jade grates cheese as Giada stirs the pasta, accidentally dropping it into the bowl. — Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026 This beloved Microplane zester is made from stainless steel and designed with a unique tooth set that grates hard spices, citrus, cheeses, and more as smooth as butter. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026 And though Billy Bob Thornton and Ali Larter's dysfunctional love story still grates, corporate drama and spikes of heart drive the Paramount+ series. — Ew Staff November 14, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025 Nothing grates quite like those slick pharmaceutical ads blaring across the TV, promising quick fixes while soft-pedaling potential side effects. — Alex Ward, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grates

Verb

That very same thing is what annoys Liz about Charles 500 years later.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
But Turner is a symbol for everything that annoys people about the Phillies.

— Matt Gelb, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of annoys

Verb

Achord stands behind Smack each time and, before one kick, rubs his belly with his other hand over his head as some sort of signal.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
But during the following two years, Van Lith saw only gigantic tracks and adrenaline-inspiring antler rubs that had been left behind by the buck of his dreams.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubs

Verb

Therefore, scrapes without a licking branch aren’t repeatedly visited and re-used by the local deer herd.

— Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
People should immediately wash cuts and scrapes thoroughly with soap and clean running water after coming in contact with coastal waters or raw seafood, the CDC said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrapes

Verb

Knowing that Madame Lalouette’s sales numbers are too high to fire her, Carla attempts to transfer Madame Morel to a different department — a move that irritates her superiors and highlights her weakness.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.

— Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritates

Verb

The annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country’s most important academic event, grinds the nation to almost a halt to ensure the smooth administration of the exam.

— Lim Hui Jie,Miko Jang, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Finance ministers and central bank officials of G20 countries convene in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday as the US-Iran war grinds into its sixth month, raising inflation expectations and keeping energy prices elevated.

— Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026