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

The costumes and props were as big as the beats and grooves as the band powered through what was no doubt the most over-the-top theatrical event of the 2026 Outside Lands. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026 Work in one area at a time, using a toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach grooves. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026 Across 17 tracks, guitar riffs curdle into sheets of distortion, melodies dissolve into electronic hiss, and grooves are chronically interrupted by fresh rhythmic detours. — Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 Several generations of jam bands cite Little Feat as foundational, although almost none has come close to matching the group’s seamless stylistic range and command of percolating grooves and noodling-free improvisations. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 Hard-to-reach grooves and corners often require extra scrubbing, so Harris recommends keeping a crevice cleaning brush on hand. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 Bacteria can hide in these small components, ridges, and grooves. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 25 July 2026 Last night, its extended section stretched to 16 minutes, built on deep, psychedelic grooves and the foursome’s remarkable instrumental interplay. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 23 July 2026 Its irregularities, grooves, nicks, and pockmarks heightened, rather than disturbed, the tranquillity of the space. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026

Verb

But when Las Vegas’s the Killers traded in the Anglophilia and new wave nostalgia of 2004’s Hot Fuss for the E Street Band grooves and Americana imagery of Sam’s Town, fans and critics were divided. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 29 June 2026 Food particles and microorganisms can become trapped in the nicks, grooves, and scratches on the board. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 28 June 2026 Why are there currently rappers from Orlando and Virginia assimilating mid-2000s NYC litefeet grooves into their sound? — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grooves

Noun

But the upward trajectory will surely end soon, and as teams become more familiar with the various routines, the specialist coaches must start to earn their money in the defensive penalty area.

— George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Organizations often spend substantial energy articulating ambitious outcomes while devoting less attention to the routines that make those outcomes possible.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of routines

Noun

As a result, some places, such as Nevada, have gotten short shrift in the past because candidates, most from the eastern half of the country, have concluded the time investment isn’t worth it.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Across the country, immigrants have stayed home from work, kept children out of school and avoided stores, churches and other places that once anchored daily life.

— Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of places

Verb

The beloved character files a claim that the Acme corporation — the fictional company that sells the faulty products prominently seen in Looney Tunes cartoons — is purposefully selling bad products to Coyote in his efforts to catch Roadrunner.

— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
If the prosecution files a motion for summary disposition, the presiding judge — Hippler, in Kohberger’s case — will likely schedule a hearing.

— Alex Brizee July 30, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026

Definition of files

Noun

Neptune retrograde in Aries commences on this day, urging us to break out of our emotional and professional ruts and to reignite our dreams.

— Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Wet soil is also prone to compaction from the weight of the mower, which may leave ruts in the yard.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 June 2026

Definition of ruts

Verb

But as his guitar scratches away at Stewart’s velvet synths and glances off Mitchell’s drums, sing Reilly does.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Preparing for a college football Saturday with ACC Network scratches the same gameplanning itch for Fisher that used to take up his time during his more than three decades as a coach.

— David Ubben, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of scratches

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