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)
Verb
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The Hull’s statement says MacPherson’s, the largest distributor of art supplies in North America, filed for bankruptcy, throwing the supply chain into chaos and overwhelming the only remaining distributor.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
4 Mar. 2026 -
As her maximalist decor evolved, what once was fun and energizing turned into visual clutter, the term for what happens when too many objects, colors, shapes or details compete for attention, overwhelming the brain.—
Jolie Kerr,
Washington Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Through the implementation of strong border policies, fentanyl trafficking across the southern border has been slashed in half, leading to fewer overdose deaths devastating American families.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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The Los Angeles County district attorney is investigating whether Southern California Edison should be criminally prosecuted for its actions in last year’s devastating Eaton wildfire, which killed 19 people and left thousands of families homeless, the company said Wednesday.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whether a brave, thrilling but ultimately unsuccessful attempt at overcoming a seemingly impossible target of 254 to beat India and reach the T20 World Cup final will be enough to make up for England’s desperately disappointing winter.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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His big struggle was overcoming the same challenge most pitchers face after a long layoff.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His win in Istanbul in 2019 represented a crushing blow to Erdogan, whose own political ascent began as the city’s mayor.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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For too many New Yorkers, a single emergency can mean eviction or crushing debt.—
Tiffany Caban,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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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 9 Mar. 2026.
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