GROOVES Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

grooves 1 of 2

noun

plural of groove

as in routines

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity I can't get into the groove on Monday morning without a cup of coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in places

a situation or activity for which a person or thing is best suited after years of bouncing from job to job, she discovered that her natural groove was social work

Synonyms & Similar Words

grooves

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of groove

as in files

to mark with or as if with a line or groove if you groove that piece of wood, we should be able to fit this smaller board into it

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in blends

to form a pleasing relationship surprisingly, his flighty, artistic sensibility and her no-nonsense practicality groove together rather well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of grooves

Noun

As if to cool that fire, classical selections are used to bed large swathes of the film, with electronic grooves that hark back to the heyday of acid house from Paul Hartnoll, co-founder of British rave scenesters Orbital. —

Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 In one legend associated with the Crow, the grooves on the tower were made by a bear clawing at the formation trying to get to two little girls. —

Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 14 May 2026 Will the grooves on Trionda help players generate more backspin on the ball, generating more lift and possibly offsetting Trionda’s somewhat larger high-speed drag coefficient? —

John Eric Goff, The Conversation, 13 May 2026 The shoes are lightweight and flexible, with grooves on the outsoles that allow the shoes to bend while also reducing impact at pressure points and providing stability on uneven surfaces, like cobblestone streets. —

Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026 The shoes also have a meshy upper fabric that’s intended to provide airflow to keep your feet cool, even in the summer heat, along with grooves on the outsole for flexibility. —

Natalie Labarbera, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026 Clean golf clubs – particularly in the grooves – translate to better shots. —

Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 7 May 2026 These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay. —

Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026 Plan to deep clean your shower door each month, getting into grooves and corners where buildup occurs. —

Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 May 2026

Verb

So, let’s close out Night 2 with a big helping of soulful island reggae grooves from Maui’s Maoli on the HelloFresh Stage. —

Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 Cruz grooves onstage with the mystique of a natural rock star — this could well be her ultimate Hall of Fame moment. —

Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026 Released at the top of the year, Vacancy, her third studio effort, highlights Lennox’s warm, buttery voice over the sultry grooves she’s known for. —

Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026 Chops, gouges, wounds it like the shadow grooves on the sidewalks—the sun is setting earlier. —

Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026 After centuries of use, the board bore grooves and marks left by real human hands moving real pieces across its surface. —

Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026 Bar Tab Dan Stahl grooves to a cover band in melting-pot midtown. —

Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026 Celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen gives these bright copper nails indents and grooves for a unique way to dress them up. —

Audrey Noble, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025 In the spring, Caltrans intends to remove the channelizers and put in what are called rumble strips — in this case, grooves in the roadway — from the School-State Park turnoff to Newport Coast Drive, to gently jar off-course drivers to attention. —

Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grooves

Noun

The Moon in Taurus moves through your 6th House of Work and Wellness, asking for simple systems, steady routines, and practical follow-through.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
With the introduction of synthetic fabrics, laundry sorting routines changed again to accommodate fabrics that could not withstand hot water washing.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 May 2026