as in scraping
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in rubbing
to make smooth by friction
after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
6
as in crushing
to reduce to fine particles
grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grinding
Mark Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Antonelli had actually just managed to pass Russell on track on lap 61 before grinding to a halt a lap later.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026
The sentence handed down by the District Court of The Hague is the latest against Syrian suspects in different countries since Assad was toppled from power in a decisive rebel offensive in December 2024 that followed years of grinding civil war.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
The grinding robot has already proven its worth on the shop floor, successfully processing more than 500 steel sections while clocking a sleek 15 percent boost in operational efficiency.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
The Kremlin’s strategy has long been to outlast Ukraine in an attritional war profiting from its immense population and large military industry that can sustain a slow, grinding campaign.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
If the story of the past two years was one of slow, grinding forward progress for Russia,the story of this year is very different.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
Nine crucial years of expansion and solidification of the pernicious institution went by, speeding the nation’s road toward a grinding war.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
But these Knicks didn’t reach the Finals by grinding every possession or waiting for Jalen Brunson to save them in critical moments.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 June 2026
Verb
The boys were grinding today, my goodness.
—Mark Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Antonelli had actually just managed to pass Russell on track on lap 61 before grinding to a halt a lap later.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026
The sentence handed down by the District Court of The Hague is the latest against Syrian suspects in different countries since Assad was toppled from power in a decisive rebel offensive in December 2024 that followed years of grinding civil war.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
The grinding robot has already proven its worth on the shop floor, successfully processing more than 500 steel sections while clocking a sleek 15 percent boost in operational efficiency.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
The Kremlin’s strategy has long been to outlast Ukraine in an attritional war profiting from its immense population and large military industry that can sustain a slow, grinding campaign.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
If the story of the past two years was one of slow, grinding forward progress for Russia,the story of this year is very different.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
Nine crucial years of expansion and solidification of the pernicious institution went by, speeding the nation’s road toward a grinding war.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
But these Knicks didn’t reach the Finals by grinding every possession or waiting for Jalen Brunson to save them in critical moments.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinding
Adjective
-
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
Verb
-
Carefully remove any visible tentacles with tweezers or a gloved hand and avoid rubbing the skin.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
-
Sources told the outlet that the pair had a smiley chat, while White's date was also seen rubbing his leg.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
-
The director, a graduate of the AFI conservatory, spent two summers growing up gritting his teeth at an all-boys sleepaway sports camp.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Go Generation 3 keeps the formula intact while sharpening the parts that mattered most, and it's pitched squarely at festivals, travel, and impromptu social gatherings.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 June 2026
-
Exercise improves mental health by triggering mood-boosting brain chemicals, easing tension, improving sleep and sharpening focus, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Prioritizing Features Over User Intent A common user experience mistake is polishing the surface instead of solving for the moment of intent.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Tasker and Grimm care for the space almost every day — watering plants, sweeping away sand, polishing the phone.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
In a moment that left everyone scratching their heads, Zaire's Mwepu Ilunga broke from the defensive wall as Brazil was getting ready to make a free kick during their match.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Housing is too expensive, gas is at $5 a gallon, and student debt is crushing an entire generation of young people.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
-
The first day of what is expected to be the biggest World Cup in women’s cricket history saw the spotlight shift away from Ben Stokes and a West End nightclub to a West End musical and a crushing victory for an England side aiming for this to be their Lionesses or Red Roses moment.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Additionally, try not to use any harsh cleaners or a really abrasive solution that may damage the surface.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
-
There’s a one-note quality to the film’s comedy that grows steadily, even deliberately, more abrasive over two hours, but the sad, brash, gradually shrinking bigness of the personalities at its center holds your attention.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinding. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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