Synonyms of grinds

grinds 1 of 2

noun

plural of grind

1

as in scratches

a harsh grating sound

the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scratches
• scrapes
• creaks
• rasps
• clashes
• screeches
• jars
• clangs
• clanks
• jangles
• blasts
• croaks
• gargles
• scuffs
• brays
• bleats
• clangors

2

as in nerds

a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits

don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nerds
• geeks
• weenies
• swots
• dinks
• wonks
• bookworms
• scholars
• brains
• dorks
• highbrows
• intellectuals
• geniuses
• double-domes
• academics
• gearheads
• bookmen
• techies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slackers
• underachievers
• goldbricks
• lowbrows
• goof-offs

3

as in sweats

very hard or unpleasant work

yard work is a real grind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sweats
• toils
• efforts
• labors
• fatigues
• pains
• struggles
• drudges
• exertions
• slaveries
• drudgeries
• travails
• troubles
• donkeyworks
• moils
• responsibilities
• jobs
• duties
• obligations
• chores
• spadeworks
• treadmills
• tediums
• routines

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plays
• rests
• eases
• fun
• reposes
• relaxations
• sports
• diversions
• amusements
• dalliances
• entertainments
• recreations
• inertias
• decompressions
• leisures
• inactivities
• dormancies

4

as in routines

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity

the daily grind of a 50-mile commute was getting old

Synonyms & Similar Words

• routines
• ruts
• grooves
• drills
• patterns
• habits
• rotes
• locksteps
• treadmills
• methods
• techniques
• practices
• strategies
• traditions
• programs
• procedures
• approaches
• tacks
• plans
• regimens
• tricks
• customs
• styles
• housekeepings
• manners
• policies
• daily dozens
• wonts
• schemes
• fashions
• designs
• ways
• conventions

grinds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grind

1

as in rubs

to make smooth by friction

after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rubs
• sharpens
• sands
• files
• hones
• scrapes
• polishes
• buffs
• rasps
• smooths
• planes
• scours
• shines
• burnishes
• edges
• sandblasts
• whets
• glosses
• regrinds
• dresses
• strops

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coarsens
• roughens
• scuffs
• roughs (up)

2

as in grits

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

• grits
• scrapes
• crunches
• scratches
• groans
• creaks
• gnashes
• whines
• grates
• moans
• scrunches
• clashes
• collides
• jars
• rasps
• jangles

3

as in sharpens

to make sharp or sharper

better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sharpens
• stones
• whets
• edges
• hones
• files
• strops

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dulls
• blunts
• smooths
• rounds
• glosses
• polishes
• burnishes
• buffs

4

as in smooths

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

• rubs
• smooths
• polishes
• shines
• burnishes
• scrapes
• coats
• scrubs
• glosses
• smoothens
• dresses
• buffs
• sands
• furbishes
• finishes
• bobs
• faces
• glazes
• files
• brightens
• slicks
• bones
• varnishes
• scours
• sleeks
• lacquers
• veneers
• sandpapers
• sandblasts
• rasps
• laps
• japans

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ruffles
• roughens
• roughs (up)
• scuffs (up)

5

as in scrapes

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface

ground the rock against the stone wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scratches
• scrapes
• rubs
• grates
• groans
• whines
• rasps

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slides
• glides
• skates

6

as in pounds

to reduce to fine particles

grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pounds
• crushes
• beats
• disintegrates
• pulverizes
• mills
• crumbles
• powders
• mulls
• atomizes
• smashes
• grates
• brays
• breaks
• comminutes
• shatters
• fractures
• crunches
• fragments
• kibbles
• dashes
• splinters
• busts
• micronizes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grinds

Noun

Tableside dishes are a highlight, including a seasonal classic Greek salad and mouthwatering whole branzino baked in a coffee-grinds and sea-salt crust, then expertly deboned and served to perfection. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026

In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. — Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026

Skaters ages 6-11 showed off their nose grinds, kickflips and wall rides to an enthusiastic early crowd. — Tony Le Calvez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

This is perfect for a small household that just needs enough grinds for one pot of coffee at a time. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

After using your coffee maker, clean the basin where the grinds go as well as the coffee pot using warm, soapy water. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 2026

Finish with a few grinds of black pepper and serve. — Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026

Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of fresh pepper. — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026

The base of the ski will be prepared with various grinds that respond to various snow conditions. — ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026

Verb

The annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country’s most important academic event, grinds the nation to almost a halt to ensure the smooth administration of the exam. — Lim Hui Jie,miko Jang, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Finance ministers and central bank officials of G20 countries convene in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday as the US-Iran war grinds into its sixth month, raising inflation expectations and keeping energy prices elevated. — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

As Poles grinds through his Sunday, The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer offer this roster projection. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Today, the company has a staff of about 35 and roasts, winnows, and grinds chocolate from scratch at its factory in Somerville. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026

That dust grinds at the wheel bearings and works past the seals. — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

The Russia and Ukraine conflict grinds into a fifth year; a new Fed chair settles in while tariff policy whipsaws through the courts; tensions with allies and adversaries alike continue to flare. — Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency. — ABC News, 22 June 2026

Sorry for the rant, but this one really grinds my gears. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026