grinding (down)

verb

present participle of grind (down)
as in overwhelming
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 grinding (down)
  1. overwhelming
  2. devastating
  3. overcoming
  4. crushing
Verb
  • For a softer alternative, consider buttery yellow, which brings a little sunshine into your workspace without overwhelming it.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2026
  • This approach offers a bold personal statement without overwhelming or darkening the entire room.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Verb
  • The story here is about the strange relationships that form in the wake of devastating loss, and an examination of the unpredictable, messy and confusing connections often found between people experiencing grief.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Just one week after devastating flooding across southwest Colorado, another powerful storm is moving in.
    — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • Third of all, overcoming two years of dread took a long time.
    — Monique John, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • About that theme of overcoming numerous challenges, from March through October.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of overcoming
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
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

grinding
grinding (down)
grinding (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Grinding (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinding%20%28down%29. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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