Synonyms of grubs

grubs 1 of 2

noun

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

• laborers
• workers
• slaves
• grubbers
• peons
• toilers
• foot soldiers
• drones
• grunts
• pluggers
• sloggers
• dogsbodies
• drudges
• drudgers
• serfs
• workhorses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shirkers
• slugs
• loafers
• idlers
• sluggards
• goldbricks
• lazybones
• slouches

grubs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grub

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

• labors
• struggles
• strives
• works
• slaves
• endeavors
• fags
• plows
• tugs
• toils
• sweats
• plugs
• pegs (away)
• humps
• tries
• drudges
• digs (away)
• bangs away
• hustles
• beavers (away)
• strains
• sweats blood
• travails
• applies (oneself)
• slogs
• plods
• attacks
• hammers (away)
• moils
• buckles (down)
• knuckles down
• scratches
• pitches in
• essays
• grinds (out)
• exercises
• ekes out
• exerts
• overexerts
• drives
• digs in
• wades
• scrabbles
• overworks
• trudges
• puts out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bums
• breaks
• slackens
• lets up
• lounges
• eases (up)
• lazes
• loafs
• hangs (around or out)
• slacks (off)
• goldbricks
• chills
• dallies
• dillydallies
• shirks
• idles
• hacks (around)
• goofs (off)
• lolls
• rests
• reposes
• basks
• plays
• footles
• unwinds
• hangs
• trifles
• fribbles
• relaxes
• doodles
• vegges out
• dabbles
• fools around
• potters (around)
• monkeys (around)
• hangs about
• putters (around)
• messes around
• goofs (around)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grubs

Noun

Under Mulch Squash bugs, slugs, snails, and various sorts of grubs prefer cozier hiding places like the thick layers of mulch spread throughout your garden. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Nov. 2026

These are bugs that feed on grubs and other insects during both their larval and adult stages, says Zaber. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 9 Oct. 2026

Their larvae, called grubs, often feast on the organic matter in compost. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

They are considered beneficial insects that pollinate flowers and prey on grubs and beetles. — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Their diet consists primarily of insects and other soil-dwelling creatures, including earthworms and grubs. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026