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
  • What's a new purpose that scratches that itch?
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Reese’s fans should go straight for the Peanut Butter Cup flavor, which scratches that candy bar itch without the sugar crash.
    Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 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
  • The video shows the pup lounging around in various positions in a home setting, from asleep on the floor and over a blanket to playing with a dog toy and lying on the floor with her legs in the air as a hand rubs her belly.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • For a deeper dive into DeRose-Broeckert’s findings about how deer perceive scrapes and rubs, head over to NDA.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Injuries can occur when the person scrapes over the rocks.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • For a deeper dive into DeRose-Broeckert’s findings about how deer perceive scrapes and rubs, head over to NDA.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • At bottom, that’s the thing that grinds my gears.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The Luxe Café automatically grinds beans to the appropriate size and volume for your drink, and has a hands-free frothing system for creating hot and cold foam.
    Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Both can reduce debris or items that attract the boxelder bugs.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Chinch bugs overwinter in moist, deep thatch.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grates. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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