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grind 1 of 2

1
as in scratch
a harsh grating sound the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room

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2
as in nerd
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself

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grind

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry

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2
as in to grit
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound everyone in the car winced when the driver ground the gears trying to shift into second

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3
as in to sharpen
to make sharp or sharper better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree

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4
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure used the finest polishing paper he could to grind down the facets of the diamond before dusting it with a soft cloth

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5
as in to scratch
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface ground the rock against the stone wall

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grind contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of grind are drudgery, labor, toil, travail, and work. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When might drudgery be a better fit than grind?

In some situations, the words drudgery and grind are roughly equivalent. However, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When would labor be a good substitute for grind?

While the synonyms labor and grind are close in meaning, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than grind?

The words toil and grind are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When could travail be used to replace grind?

The synonyms travail and grind are sometimes interchangeable, but travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

In what contexts can work take the place of grind?

The meanings of work and grind largely overlap; however, work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

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 grind
Noun
Staying grounded through the grind Eric Morman still remembers Wilson’s humility during his tenure as head football coach at North Mecklenburg. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025 Her clients transition from the 9-to-5 grind and step into coaching with clarity and confidence. Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
At one point, Hercules is holding a small knife as wood shavings cover the floor where the two doors grind against each other. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025 After more than a decade grinding in the pop machine, something about Zara Larsson finally clicked this summer. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grind
Noun
  • Blood from my knee painted more red down a canvas of a million smaller scratches.
    Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Different types of objects have been successfully 3D printed in space, but making functional human tissue from scratch — blood vessels, for example — requires special innovation.
    Jessica Rendall, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Roberts’s pet theory is the Major Questions Doctrine, known to Supreme Court nerds as MQD.
    Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Military history nerds will be pleased.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Even as federal funding resumes, local colleges, businesses and nonprofits are joining county agencies in maintaining relief efforts for as long as Sacramento-area residents need them.
    Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The first Black cemetery in Tarrant County, home to the remains of more than 500 veterans, was rededicated on Veterans Day after a months-long restoration effort.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In part, the McKinley administration standardized various press protocols and routines involved in managing the press corps—holding somewhat regular briefings, for example, and carefully timing White House announcements.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Your best bet for starting a routine that sticks?
    Julia Sullivan, Health, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The constant friction of material rubbing on material wears the clothing out faster, so when there is more time, as in a regular or deep clean cycle, the garment fibers can wear down faster.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The events occurred in and around the lawless border of Venezuela and Colombia, where spies, smugglers and gun runners rub shoulders and distrust their own shadow.
    Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Bob Donnan / Imagn Images North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick picked up a second straight ACC win on Saturday, gritting to a 20-15 victory over Stanford in Chapel Hill.
    Justin Williams, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The Buccaneers quarterback has been showcasing some toughness and grit through his own injury scares, and also leading the team to gutsy fourth-quarter comebacks.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Under José Luis Cienfuegos, director since 2023, Valladolid is sharpening its industry use for Spain’s indie sector, serving as a second major fall berth for domestic launches after San Sebastián, while business ramps via Merci, the independent market co-organized with Adicine.
    Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Elliott said that since the office has sharpened its tone, donations have poured in from millions of supporters.
    Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But the majority of all diamonds – 90% – are cut and polished in India, which holds a towering tariff rate of 50%.
    Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Prinbara Satin Maxi Skirt This satin maxi skirt is the definition of versatile—comfortable enough for all-day wear yet polished enough to anchor a night-out look.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grind. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

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