grubs 1 of 2

Definition of grubsnext
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
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 These microscopic organisms hunt grubs, stopping their development and protecting your plants from root damage. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026 These insects, in turn, prey on common potato pests, including Colorado potato beetle grubs and aphids. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubs
Noun
  • His death comes as scores of Palestinian laborers have been killed or arrested trying to enter Israel, and as violence flares in Gaza and the West Bank despite a fragile ceasefire.
    Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
  • Here, Chinese laborers, factory workers, seamstresses, nail technicians, and cooks take glorious center stage, their lives and deepest yearnings made epic.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.
    Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Just days after the workers lodged these complaints, Spesshardt convened a meeting.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • Gang intervention workers have been credited by city officials as one of the factors behind significant reductions in violent crime in recent years, with homicides and shootings both falling to near-historic lows.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • In it, a Native Hawaiian family struggles to reclaim the ancestral lands that colonization, tourism, and rampant development threaten to overrun.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
  • Over the last few years, Keira has lost her ability to speak, has started having seizures, and struggles more and more with walking.
    Elise Esposito, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • In a world of jaded billionaires, psychiatrist-gurus, bio-hacked tech bros, AI labs, and disillusioned teens being optimized in elite private schools, an audacious data-mining CEO (Magnussen) strives to turn insight and influence into profit and power.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 June 2026
  • Denver Fringe strives to make the arts accessible to all, with tickets priced at $20 each for most shows.
    Laura Daily, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • The villa layout works great for families needing space.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Churning out lazy, uninspired movies no longer works, even if they're attached to a previously important brand name.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 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 5 Jun. 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