grates

present tense third-person singular of grate
1
2
as in scratches
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 grits
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 grates 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
  • Naturally, this annoys Alex to no end.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
  • This annoys his wife, who hankers after Bingley (sight unseen) as a future son-in-law.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Prone to thermal shock and scratches easily.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Fingerprints, dust, and scratches torpedoed early designs that envisioned users removing the discs from sleeves as casually as record albums; instead, the final version kept the discs encased in a plastic shell that was then inserted into the player.
    Allison Marsh, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?
    Time, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
  • What bothers her most is how the refusal seemed to change her brother’s behavior.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Specifically, Byron’s enthusiasm for Guinness — the beer and the family — rubs him the wrong way.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Ray, grateful for the distraction, rubs my Lab behind his ears and tells me how much Michelle loved dogs.
    Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The product scrapes the insect, removing oils and fats from the outside of the insect's body.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The spiral layer also provides a deeper exfoliation that scrapes off dead cells, resulting in smoother, silkier skin.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • During his appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast alongside his The Roses costar Olivia Colman, the 49-year-old actor opened up about what irritates his family members.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The news irritates Lord Lovat, knowing that if the MacKenzie brothers thought Ellen had run off with Malcom Grant, and Dougal (Sam Retford) was dumb enough to beat Malcom as a result, there has to be a moral lapse in judgment somewhere.
    Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The White House is halting $18 billion in New York infrastructure funding due to concerns over diversity and inclusion practices and as the first day of a federal shutdown grinds government work to a halt.
    Gregory Korte, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
  • This all-in-one machine grinds and brews for maximum freshness, dispensing the perfect dose of caffeine each time.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At the end of the 19th century, Phylloxera bugs infected vineyards across Europe but a solution was found, and viticulture adapted and continued.
    Miguel A. Torres, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The singer admitted that he bugs Brown and his son for constant updates on the baby girl.
    Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grates. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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