1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sweats
very hard or unpleasant work
yard work is a real grind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
3
4
as in smoothes
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
6
as in pounds
to reduce to fine particles
grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grinds
Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
And Destiny 2 has had some bad grinds in the past.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
That fear grinds community life to a halt, resulting in less foot traffic, lower sales, and more empty storefronts.
—Javier Palomarez, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
There are ways to cut corners, like using a jet mill, which grinds the leaves with high pressure air.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Sarah stands up from the audience to fill in the lyrics after David, confronting his then childhood girlfriend, grinds the performance to an auditorium-freezing halt.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2025
Too often, the buying journey still grinds like an outdated gearbox.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
As Russia’s war machine grinds forward in eastern Ukraine, there is another offensive being waged far beyond the front line.
—Rachel Wilson, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
This contrasts sharply with traditional recycling, which grinds panels into powder and treats the material with aggressive chemicals.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
It’s finished with a generous sprinkling of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
And Destiny 2 has had some bad grinds in the past.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
People die in this movie, and nobody seems to care, which could be a metaphor for the way the pro sports industry grinds up and disposes of its warriors.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
That fear grinds community life to a halt, resulting in less foot traffic, lower sales, and more empty storefronts.
—Javier Palomarez, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
There are ways to cut corners, like using a jet mill, which grinds the leaves with high pressure air.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Sarah stands up from the audience to fill in the lyrics after David, confronting his then childhood girlfriend, grinds the performance to an auditorium-freezing halt.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2025
Too often, the buying journey still grinds like an outdated gearbox.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
As Russia’s war machine grinds forward in eastern Ukraine, there is another offensive being waged far beyond the front line.
—Rachel Wilson, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
This contrasts sharply with traditional recycling, which grinds panels into powder and treats the material with aggressive chemicals.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinds
Noun
-
Without proper padding and protection, your device risks scratches, dents, or worse, internal damage.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
-
How To Store Your Barware Properly Store your glassware upright or inverted based on your setup, but always use clean, padded or lined shelving to prevent chips and scratches.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But hey, whiskey nerds are gonna whiskey nerd and whiskey sellers are gonna gouge.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Sure, there will always be some people who care, just as today there are nerds like me willing to debate the merits of writing for the Z80 versus the 6502 8-bit CPUs.—
Stephen Cass,
IEEE Spectrum,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The man was dressed in sweats and carried a clear plastic bag filled with clothes.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Deion Sanders said left tackle Jordan Seaton, who watched the second half of the Wyoming game in sweats, is expected to play.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Symptoms can vary widely, from food aversions and sleep problems to anxiety and trouble adapting to routines.—
Laura Dorwart,
Health,
29 Sep. 2025
-
It has simply been replicated in emojis, candles and three-step routines.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Specifically, Byron’s enthusiasm for Guinness — the beer and the family — rubs him the wrong way.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Ray, grateful for the distraction, rubs my Lab behind his ears and tells me how much Michelle loved dogs.—
Ted Katauskas,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even if a dissenting perspective isn’t correct or better, dissent brings different views to the fore so that they can be debated, and that improves and sharpens arguments, options and outcomes.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Twin Cities,
26 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, the essence of Mars in Scorpio sharpens your focus and heightens your passion around career matters.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The product scrapes the insect, removing oils and fats from the outside of the insect's body.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The spiral layer also provides a deeper exfoliation that scrapes off dead cells, resulting in smoother, silkier skin.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grinds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinds. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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