grind (down)

verb

Definition of grind (down)next
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress the workers are being ground down by the long work hours which leave them little time for anything else

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grind (down)
  1. overwhelm
  2. overcome
  3. devastate
Verb
  • That brightness will overwhelm many of the faint Delta Aquariid meteors, leaving only the brightest examples visible.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • This was often seen as a proxy for player skill, as more advanced players could better handle the cognitive rush of commanding dozens of units across multiple fronts, presumably leading to more effective play, eventually overwhelming the opponent.
    — Nnamdi Iregbulem, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • Given that the Touch Bar is no more, this stumbling block was never satisfactorily overcome.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Reclaiming Progress Park required overcoming years of lived experience.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • Venezuela now faces a multi-year recovery following the twin quakes which have left whole regions of the country devastated and caused an economic hit equivalent to 6% of the country’s GDP, according to the United Nations Development Programme.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Other major El Niño episodes brought crop failures, devastating peatland fires, and prolonged droughts.
    — Karryl Kim Sagun Trajano, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastate
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.

Browse Nearby Words

grind
grind (down)
grinder
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Cite this Entry

“Grind (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grind%20%28down%29. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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