grubs 1 of 2

plural of grub
as in laborers
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 & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grubs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grub

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 grubs
Noun
Here are some tips from the Plant Clinic for coping with Japanese beetles and grubs. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026 Spanenberg recommends looking for pests in the marginal areas where brown grass meets green, as well as in the soil beneath brown patches where grubs can hide. The Spruce, 25 June 2026 Jiminy's grain-free cookies for dogs are made with crickets and grubs. Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026 Adult beetles skeletonize foliage, while their larvae, known as grubs, feed on grass roots, resulting in brown patches and dying lawns. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026 In spring and summer, the abundance of beetles, crickets, grasshoppers and grubs provide a high protein source of food for skunks. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026 Ants will swarm plants that are infested with spider mites, cabbage loopers, root maggots, beetle grubs, scale, mealybugs, ticks, or other pests that ants feed on. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026 Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026 If the holes appear shallow, then they could be made by squirrels, looking for places to store nuts, or by skunks and raccoons, digging for grubs. Joan Morris, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubs
Noun
  • He is accused of not checking work authorizations before hiring laborers, according to the Post.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Israel soon barred nearly two hundred thousand Palestinian laborers from its workforce.
    Nirit Peled, New Yorker, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.
    Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • There are fewer opportunities for younger workers to find mentors and soak up knowledge.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The sheriff's office says a preliminary investigation found that workers were installing underground tanks.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • During contests, their stomachs stretch, heart rates rise, and digestion struggles to keep up, causing intense physical stress.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Her 12-year-old son, Whitman, has autism and a neurological disorder called apraxia, in which the brain struggles to tell muscles how to move to form words or perform other motor skills.
    Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Alan Stanton said the conservative county strives not to overregulate in general.
    John Aguilar, Denver Post, 24 June 2026
  • New legislation introduced by a bipartisan group of senators strives to add new aircraft to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunter fleet and codify the agency’s role in meteorological research.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Louis-Gabriel Nouchi adds that organizing well in advance allows the team to work on a lighter schedule this week, a far cry from the fashion stereotype that everyone works around the clock in the days leading up to a show.
    Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 23 June 2026
  • Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Things are equally akilter in his family’s home, with his mother now sitting on the couch watching TV while his father slaves away in the kitchen.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubs. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on grubs

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster