Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

grub

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of grub

1 substances intended to be eaten

  • after the game, we headed to the diner for some hearty grub
Synonyms of grub

bread, chow, chuck [chiefly West], comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, meat, provender, provisions, table, tucker [chiefly Australian], viands, victuals, vittles
Words Related to grub

commissary, rations, supplies

aliment, nutriment

diet, nourishment, nurture, sustenance

mess, pap

ensilage, feed, fodder, forage, silage, slop, swill

feast, meal, refreshments, regale, repast, spread

board

dish, plate, platter, serving

finger food, natural food
Near Antonyms of grub

bane, poison, toxin, venom

2 a person who does very hard or dull work

  • you may have to spend some time working as a grub before challenging work comes your way
Synonyms of grub

dogsbody [chiefly British], drone, drudge, drudger, fag, foot soldier, grubber, grunt, laborer, peon, plugger, slave, slavey, slogger, toiler, worker
Words Related to grub

workhorse

serf
Near Antonyms of grub

goldbrick, shirker

drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard

grub

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of grub

to devote serious and sustained effort

  • grubbing away at the yard work before the first snow of the season
Synonyms of grub

bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work
Words Related to grub

apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in

attack, drive

essay, try

exercise, exert, overexert, overwork

eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch

trudge, wade
Phrases Synonymous with grub

sweat blood
Near Antonyms of grub

break, ease (up), let up, slacken

bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out

bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind

dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about [British], mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Learn More about grub

  1. See words that rhyme with grub Dictionary: Definition of grub Medical Dictionary: Definition of grub Spanish Central: Translation of grub Nglish: Translation of grub for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up grub? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games