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 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

Another potential ingredient in whether a company annoys customers is its business model.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 7 July 2026
That's Clearly Too Heavy This isn't just something that annoys flight attendants, but a potentially hazardous task for crew members.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

Definition of annoys

Verb

Some scratches early in this past season led to reports of Mintyukov requesting a trade, but the smooth-skating blueliner improved his play and settled in on Anaheim’s second defense pairing.

— Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Food particles and microorganisms can become trapped in the nicks, grooves, and scratches on the board.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 28 June 2026

Definition of scratches

Verb

If that bothers you, then a significant projection for Bo Nix’s season will make your skin crawl.

— Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
What bothers me more is when passengers take up valuable overhead bin space with personal items like backpacks and jackets before everyone has finished boarding.

— Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 July 2026

Definition of bothers

Verb

The nurse rubs circles on her lower back, clucking at the struggle of turning the pregnant body to the side like a lopsided gourd.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

Definition of rubs

Verb

Her older brother, 9-year-old Charlie, climbs across the nearby jungle gym at a Prairie Village playground as her younger brother, 3-year-old Will, scrapes a stick through the mulch.

— Anna Spoerre, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

Definition of scrapes

Verb

If someone is in your life long enough, they’re bound to do something that irritates you—and you’re bound to do something that irritates them.

— Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Elsa’s inquisitive presence almost instantly irritates Amalia, as the latter refuses to simply acquiesce to her relentless quizzing.

— Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 16 May 2026

Definition of irritates

Verb

The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026
With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year.

— Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026