GRINDING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

grinding 1 of 2

adjective

as in scraping

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grinding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grind

as in rubbing

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

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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

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as in sharpening

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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as in polishing

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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as in scratching

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface ground the rock against the stone wall

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as in crushing

to reduce to fine particles grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee

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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

Verb

But a mulching mower also does a great job of grinding up leaves. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Nov. 2026 Fallbrook High School has seen numerous momentum swings over the span of time, and just two years after grinding through a winless season, the Warriors were hosting a Friday night playoff game again. — Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026 Instead of grinding harder, people need better information and a smarter strategy. — Tonia Ryan, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026 The forcefulness of their singing conveys desperation, but preempts so much of the nuance that enlivens their songs—the fundamental regret in their voice grinding against the fundamental determination. — Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026 As the midterms drag on with a sense of grinding doom for Republicans, all that might be too conceptual for a younger generation of conservatives hungry to see a far-right takeover of the party. — Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026 Most are somewhere between the size of a golf ball and a fist, and their only real feature is a malevolent-looking mouth armed with five overlapping teeth for grinding and shearing kelp. — Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026 Nowadays, machinery like edge polishers make calibration, grinding, shaping and beveling possible with great ease and high-pressure waterjet cutting and polishing systems used for complex contours and sensitive materials. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026 The result can slim the lower face and ease clenching, grinding and TMJ pain. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinding

Adjective

If Google can amend its complaint to argue that rights holders directly authorized Google to use its anti-scraping technology to prevent unauthorized access to content, then Google may be able to block a very limited amount of SerpApi’s scraping.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026
Recently, internet infrastructure provider Cloudflare likened the platform to North Korean hackers for bypassing anti-scraping protections on websites.

— PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2025

Definition of scraping

Verb

The simplest answer to how to wash fruits and veggies is to start with clean hands, then rinse produce under cool running water while rubbing it for about 20 seconds.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Small amounts of surface rust or rust that can be removed simply by rubbing a paper towel over the surface, is okay.

— Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of rubbing

Verb

And those options extend well beyond a binary choice between taking an opioid and gritting your teeth.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026
Red flag The Dodgers still don’t know what to reasonably expect from Ohtani, gritting out the postseason despite discomfort in his left knee and right arm.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of gritting

Verb

The co-founders are bullish on the technology’s potential, touting benefits from alleviating depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue to sharpening focus, improving decision-making and boosting athletic performance.

— Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
Israeli and American leaders have been sharpening their threats before elections in both countries, while Iranian leaders have remained defiant.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of sharpening

Verb

Nowadays, machinery like edge polishers make calibration, grinding, shaping and beveling possible with great ease and high-pressure waterjet cutting and polishing systems used for complex contours and sensitive materials.

— Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
Small updates like polishing or new hardware can elevate your kitchen’s look with minimal effort.

— Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of polishing

Verb

The Senators’ most head-scratching trade of the summer, acquiring him for a 2027 sixth-round pick, has proved fruitless.

— Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
State inspections also cited other pests (roaches and flies), as well as staff hygiene issues, including one employee seen scratching their nose then handling clean utensils.

— Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of scratching

Verb

Miami responded with an 80-yard drive to retake their lead, 24-21, but UNC continued to fight on while crushing clock heading into the fourth quarter.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
For working people, patient care coordinators and families who rely on this crossing for their daily commutes, this toll is a crushing financial burden rather than a solution to traffic.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of crushing

Adjective

Physical exfoliation scrubs away dead skin with an abrasive, while chemical exfoliation uses acids to dissolve the bonds holding dead cells in place.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Coir doormats, made with coconut fiber, are appreciated for their coarse, abrasive textures.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026