grinding 1 of 2

present participle of grind
1
2
as in gritting
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in scratching
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface ground the rock against the stone wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6

grinding

2 of 2

adjective

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 grinding
Adjective
This budget-friendly Presto knife sharpener features a two-stage sharpening system for grinding knife blades and honing them to a polished and sharp finish. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025 Miley Cyrus shocked viewers by stripping down to a nude bikini top and briefs and grinding, twerking and thrusting on fellow performer Robin Thicke at the 2013 show in one of the raciest performances in MTV history. Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025 Dude kept grinding — and listening — while Shedeur took the Big 12 by storm. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025 That’s all 272 regular season games from last night’s grinding 24-20 win by current champions the Philadelphia Eagles over the Dallas Cowboys to January 4, 2026, and then up to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California’s Levi’s Stadium. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025 Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance. David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Although Moscow's ground forces are being chewed up in the grinding war in Ukraine's east, Russia has wound up its defense industry to backfill its constant equipment losses and regular strikes across Ukraine. Ellie Cook — Reporting From Prague, Czech Republic, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 So that eventually ruined the whole postseason narrative of a starting pitcher grinding for five innings and a stellar procession of relief pitchers closing out a tight game. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 And the lack of blockbuster cross-border tie-ups is grinding some gears within the bloc. Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinding
Verb
  • But to have everyone there, rubbing elbows and being just as outlandish and quirky as ever, three decades ago just felt off.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Other signs that your cat is content and relaxed with you include kneading, and head rubbing and bunting.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To add details, etch swooping lines around the holes by scraping away the pumpkin's outer skin to create contrast.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Two games into 2025, the league’s lowest-scoring team from last year is still scraping the bottom.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This budget-friendly Presto knife sharpener features a two-stage sharpening system for grinding knife blades and honing them to a polished and sharp finish.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Credit rating agencies are sharpening their focus on climate vulnerability, raising questions about whether sectors or sovereigns with large protection gaps could face higher borrowing costs.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This is why authorities at the National Park Service, which maintains the statue, have repeatedly rejected any notion of polishing away the green covering.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Silver Centerpieces For anyone who's ever gotten stuck polishing silver, there's good news.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The cats kept them up each night with their incessant whining and scratching at their doors.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
  • As a player just scratching the surface of his potential with so much still ahead of him, the coming months are critical to his hopes of landing an invite to Italy.
    Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Even well-meaning regulation can have soul-destroying and industry-crushing consequences.
    David Doty, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Electric trucks from Volvo Trucks, supported by material transport, are enabling fully emission-free operations from selective gutting through to concrete crushing, materials processing, and transport.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Don't use steel wool or anything too abrasive.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Of course Fennell is making an abrasive, porny movie that may or may not open with a corpse ejaculating.
    Emily Temple September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Missing these deadlines can result in penalties and interest, even if a taxpayer is otherwise eligible for a refund when filing their return.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Call your card servicer or visit its website for details on filing a claim.
    David McMillin, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinding. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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