grating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of gratingnext
1
as in loud
disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense the mix of colors in that painting is terribly grating

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound with a grating voice, she croaked a feeble "hello"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grate
1
as in annoying
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scratching
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 scraping
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 grating
Adjective
Imagine the most grating podcast advert in the world. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 30 Apr. 2026 His behavior was so grating that even host Rece Davis, the normally stoic straightman, got into a shouting match with Kiper. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
And this episode feels like the power dynamics are really pushing and grating against each other within Ormund and Daeron’s relationship. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 July 2026 This rechargeable version comes with three different-sized blades for grating a variety of hard cheese. — Mark Marino, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grating
  1. loud
  2. hoarse
  3. annoying
  4. scratching
  5. scraping
  6. harsh
  7. gruff
  8. irritating
Adjective
  • Seattle’s defense is intact, and traveling across three time zones to play in that loud stadium will be a challenge for the Patriots.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • And when the city gets loud, Central Park's quieter southeast corner is 10 blocks north.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of loud
Adjective
  • Singers didn’t want their voices to get hoarse over the long night or week.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Saliva collects at the mouthpiece and distorts the notes, making the blasts sound hoarse and off-pitch.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hoarse
Verb
  • Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 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 annoying
Verb
  • Use them to cook without scratching your ceramic and nonstick cookware, then toss them in the dishwasher for low-maintenance cleaning.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Its uniquely wide view will also help scientists decode the intricacies of dark matter and dark energy while perhaps clearing up some contradictions about our universe that scientists have been scratching their heads over for decades.
    — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratching
Verb
  • Add the eggs one at a time on medium speed, waiting until each is incorporated into the batter and scraping down the bowl before adding the next.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Wood is a softer surface than stainless steel and therefore can help protect your knives from wear caused by scraping against the strip.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of scraping
Adjective
  • Avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon, as well as harsh chemicals and abrasive tools, to protect the glaze.
    — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The frustration within the Democratic caucus immediately prompted some calls for harsh consequences.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • His only hope to get home turns out to be Nick (Kenneth Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent who loves American pop culture and is really good in a fight.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Known for his gruff vocals, LaMontagne first came to the scene in the early aughts as a timid troubadour.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of gruff
Verb
  • The entire internet is filled with irritating tasks like this.
    — Kelly Evans, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Oh, and don’t worry about sparkles irritating your gaze—the formula is ophthalmologist-tested.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating

Browse Nearby Words

gratifyingly
grating
gratis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grating. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All