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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in labors
to devote serious and sustained effort
grubbing away at the yard work before the first snow of the season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grubs
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
Noun
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
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As recounted by Peter Biskind in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Cimino ran long and went over budget on his epic drama about the Johnson County War, which saw cattle barons attacking immigrant laborers in late 19th-century Wyoming.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
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So on market days, local Colored laborers would follow in the tradition of the formerly enslaved, riding donkeys, horses, or rowing boats to other parishes where food was in greater supply and available for sale.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Jarring, shuddery close-ups illustrate the never-ending emotional spiral of its main character, Linda (Byrne), who struggles to raise a kid who has a chronic health issue while keeping her home and career stable.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Dec. 2025
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In particular, China struggles to manufacture the most advanced chips, putting it behind the world’s largest chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Two workers were injured Tuesday afternoon after an apparent explosion inside a Sacramento apartment shattered windows and prompted an emergency response, officials said.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 Dec. 2025
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just reminded travelers to remain calm and compliant with the rules, including good behavior and respect toward TSA officers and airport workers.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Rahma strives for a cinema-verité aesthetic, with footage sometimes shot on vintage digital cameras, but the show’s style can’t overcome the limits of its format.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
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China is looking to spend nearly $300 billion over the next five years to build more data centers across the country, as Beijing strives to gain ground on the US in the AI race.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
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That’s not how the numbering system works.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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The six-minute quasi-title track works as a centerpiece, its compressed qanun (a stringed Middle Eastern instrument, played here by the acclaimed Syrian musician Maya Youssef) looping in the background as electronic pulses, foreboding pianos, and disembodied voices swirl around the mix.—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubs. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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