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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 grubs
Noun
Moles are solitary insectivores that eat earthworms and grubs to fuel their high energy needs. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 The presence of grubs indicates that the ecosystem is out of balance, says Brian Daubenspeck, a farmer and mentor at The Soil Food Web School. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026 Japanese beetles suddenly emerge mid-summer as the grubs become adults. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Many birds subsist on bugs, including grubs, earthworms, and flying insects. — The Spruce, 5 July 2026 Here are some tips from the Plant Clinic for coping with Japanese beetles and grubs. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubs
  1. laborers
  2. labors
  3. workers
  4. struggles
  5. strives
  6. works
  7. slaves
Noun
  • Two laborers were able to escape after the blast, according to the Associated Press, which cited unnamed officials.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 July 2026
  • Unfortunately, during the early to mid-twentieth century, negative perceptions of immigrant and ethnic laborers led many outsiders to view their neighborhoods as unsafe, unclean, and detrimental to the social fabric of American cities.
    — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Definition of laborers
Verb
  • Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.
    — Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of labors
Noun
  • In impoverished Nepal, where a conservative culture leaves openly transgender people with few legal job options, the impact on aid workers’ lives was particularly crushing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • After 60 years, the resulting dataset, which covers tens of millions of American workers and has allowed researchers and regulators to examine workplace representation over decades, may now be coming to an end.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of workers
Verb
  • Once an avid Pilates goer, Beretti struggles to go up the stairs and can no longer run or jump.
    — Ella Moore July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • Funding is also a problem, as the severely degraded local health system in eastern Congo, as well as NGOs, struggles to cope as Ebola spreads in remote rural areas.
    — Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 23 July 2026
Definition of struggles
Verb
  • Like Lonnie, who strives to be the best golfer in the world, Pelican Hill is widely considered one of the world’s premier luxury resorts.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Hoy said the detention staff consistently strives to exceed the minimum standards given by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
Definition of strives
Verb
  • Co-founded by Chris Quintos Cathcart and Tyler Boehm, Unapologetic Projects works with underrepresented creators to tell authentic stories.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 17 July 2026
  • The same logic works beyond cases where the result is visible at payment.
    — Polina Chebanova, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of works
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
Definition of slaves

Browse Nearby Words

grubby
grubs
grubs (about)
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Cite this Entry

“Grubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubs. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of grubs for Spanish Speakers

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