Synonyms of grind

grind 1 of 2

noun

1

as in scratch

a harsh grating sound

the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scratch
• scrape
• creak
• rasp
• clash
• jar
• screech
• clank
• blast
• clang
• croak
• jangle
• scuff
• clangor
• gargle
• bray
• bleat

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nerd
• geek
• weenie
• wonk
• scholar
• dink
• bookworm
• swot
• dork
• brain
• intellectual
• genius
• highbrow
• double-dome
• bookman
• academic
• gearhead
• techie

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slacker
• underachiever
• goldbrick
• goof-off
• lowbrow

3

as in effort

very hard or unpleasant work

yard work is a real grind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• effort
• labor
• sweat
• toil
• drudgery
• fatigue
• pains
• drudge
• struggle
• slavery
• exertion
• moil
• travail
• donkeywork
• job
• trouble
• responsibility
• duty
• obligation
• chore
• spadework
• tedium
• routine
• treadmill

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• play
• rest
• fun
• ease
• leisure
• relaxation
• decompression
• repose
• entertainment
• recreation
• diversion
• amusement
• sport
• inertia
• idleness
• inactivity
• dormancy
• dalliance
• loafing
• inertness
• lolling
• lounging
• goldbricking
• dallying

4

as in routine

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity

the daily grind of a 50-mile commute was getting old

Synonyms & Similar Words

• routine
• groove
• rut
• drill
• pattern
• habit
• rote
• treadmill
• lockstep
• method
• practice
• tradition
• technique
• strategy
• regimen
• plan
• procedure
• approach
• tack
• program
• housekeeping
• style
• custom
• trick
• way
• fashion
• wont
• daily dozen
• design
• manner
• policy
• scheme
• convention

grind

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrīnd 

1

as in to rub

to make smooth by friction

after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rub
• sand
• sharpen
• file
• polish
• hone
• scrape
• buff
• plane
• smooth
• rasp
• shine
• scour
• burnish
• gloss
• sandblast
• edge
• whet
• regrind
• dress
• strop

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough (up)
• roughen
• coarsen
• scuff

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grit
• scrape
• scratch
• crunch
• grate
• creak
• gnash
• groan
• whine
• scrunch
• moan
• clash
• jar
• collide
• rasp
• jangle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sharpen
• stone
• whet
• hone
• edge
• file
• strop

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dull
• blunt
• round
• smooth
• polish
• gloss
• burnish
• buff

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rub
• polish
• smooth
• shine
• scrub
• burnish
• scrape
• coat
• gloss
• buff
• sand
• dress
• finish
• furbish
• smoothen
• slick
• face
• bob
• glaze
• file
• sleek
• bone
• brighten
• varnish
• scour
• japan
• sandblast
• veneer
• sandpaper
• lacquer
• lap
• rasp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough (up)
• roughen
• ruffle
• scuff (up)

5

as in to scratch

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface

ground the rock against the stone wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scratch
• scrape
• rub
• grate
• whine
• rasp
• groan

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slide
• glide
• skate

6

as in to crush

to reduce to fine particles

grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crush
• pound
• beat
• mill
• powder
• disintegrate
• pulverize
• crumble
• smash
• grate
• atomize
• mull
• bray
• break
• comminute
• fracture
• shatter
• crunch
• fragment
• dash
• bust
• splinter
• kibble
• micronize

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

Recent Examples of grind

Noun

Guarding against the daily grind’s noisy intrusions is likely necessary to make space for finding fresh insights. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026

Texas singer-songwriter Dylan Gossett’s career so far has been defined by songs about navigating the grind and working to overcome pressure. —Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 2025

Verb

But Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby mustered just two shot attempts apiece, spending their time watching idly as the Knicks offense incessantly grinds into a standstill. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026

The Chargers have been a thorn in the Broncos’ side the past two seasons, and that was even true during a grinding win for Denver on Sunday. —The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing grind

• grind (down)
• grind (out)