SANDS Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

sands 1 of 2

noun

plural of sand

as in beach

the usually sandy or gravelly land bordering a body of water we went for a moonlight walk on the sands

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sands

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sand

as in rubs

to make smooth by friction painstakingly sanded down the wooden floors of the old house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sands

Noun

As with their other current CBS hit Elsbeth — and unlike their more creatively unconventional streaming shows The Good Fight and Evil — Cupertino sands down some of the Kings’ jagged edges, aiming for something cuter. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Like sands through the hourglass, these are the recipes of our lives. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026 Beachgoers enjoy dedicated loungers, umbrellas, and towel service right on South Beach's golden sands. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026 For more than 25 years—or half of my life—I’ve been making my way back to the golden sands of Atlantic Beach, Florida. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026 Many of the paintings have retained their original colors despite spending more than 40 centuries buried beneath the desert sands, the ministry said. — CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026 By offering amenities like beds, showers and electricity, glamping sands down the edges of roughing it in the wilderness. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Contrast that with Canada, where oil sands are produced at a rate below one percent a year. — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The deaths occur in the shadows of the area’s thriving tourism industry for foreigners and locals along the Indian Ocean’s white sands. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Thorn cuts the pieces for his puzzle-style artworks, sands them, paints them, then glues them into a frame. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026 Sawdust sprays as Matt Sams meticulously sands the edges of a balcony railing that will soon be affixed to the front of a house. — Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026 Chapman sands his board occasionally to remove this top layer of funk. — Matt Fuchs, Time, 24 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sands

Noun

The low-lying coastal area is known for its powdery white sand beaches dotted with vacation homes, waterfront bars and seafood shacks.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
A day visit to Uluwatu is worthwhile as well, for even more world-class meals plus postcard beaches, surf lessons, yoga classes, shopping and spa circuits.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of beach

Verb

Achord stands behind Smack each time and, before one kick, rubs his belly with his other hand over his head as some sort of signal.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
But during the following two years, Van Lith saw only gigantic tracks and adrenaline-inspiring antler rubs that had been left behind by the buck of his dreams.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubs

Verb

Sweden files more patents per person than almost every other European country, hosts four of the world’s top 130 universities, and is ranked by the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization as the second most innovative economy on earth.

— Jan Larsson, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Settling the issue through the EEOC’s pre-litigation conciliation process ends the matter before the federal agency files a federal lawsuit on behalf of the applicants.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of files

Verb

While a classic button-down shirt is always timeless, a peplum top offers the same wearability with a waist-defining silhouette that instantly polishes any bottom they’re paired with.

— Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
The PowerPaste polishes and protects more delicate surfaces, while the Tangerine Clean is more abrasive for serious scrubbing.

— Brittany VanDerBill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026

Definition of polishes

Verb

The annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country’s most important academic event, grinds the nation to almost a halt to ensure the smooth administration of the exam.

— Lim Hui Jie,Miko Jang, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Finance ministers and central bank officials of G20 countries convene in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday as the US-Iran war grinds into its sixth month, raising inflation expectations and keeping energy prices elevated.

— Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of grinds

Browse Nearby Words

sandpapery

sands

sandstorm

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Style

“Sands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sands. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sands

noun

verb

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