GRINDS Synonyms: 194 Similar and Opposite Words

grinds 1 of 2

noun

plural of grind

as in scratches

a harsh grating sound the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in nerds

a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sweats

very hard or unpleasant work yard work is a real grind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in routines

an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity the daily grind of a 50-mile commute was getting old

Synonyms & Similar Words

grinds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grind

as in rubs

to make smooth by friction after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grits

to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound everyone in the car winced when the driver ground the gears trying to shift into second

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in sharpens

to make sharp or sharper better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in smooths

to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure used the finest polishing paper he could to grind down the facets of the diamond before dusting it with a soft cloth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scrapes

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface ground the rock against the stone wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pounds

to reduce to fine particles grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 grinds

Noun

Tableside dishes are a highlight, including a seasonal classic Greek salad and mouthwatering whole branzino baked in a coffee-grinds and sea-salt crust, then expertly deboned and served to perfection. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026 In a measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, chives, dill and garlic powder; season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. — Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026 Skaters ages 6-11 showed off their nose grinds, kickflips and wall rides to an enthusiastic early crowd. — Tony Le Calvez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 This is perfect for a small household that just needs enough grinds for one pot of coffee at a time. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 After using your coffee maker, clean the basin where the grinds go as well as the coffee pot using warm, soapy water. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 2026 Finish with a few grinds of black pepper and serve. — Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026 Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of fresh pepper. — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026 The base of the ski will be prepared with various grinds that respond to various snow conditions. — ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026

Verb

That dust grinds at the wheel bearings and works past the seals. — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 The Russia and Ukraine conflict grinds into a fifth year; a new Fed chair settles in while tariff policy whipsaws through the courts; tensions with allies and adversaries alike continue to flare. — Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency. — ABC News, 22 June 2026 With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year. — Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026 Sorry for the rant, but this one really grinds my gears. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 Earth grinds to a standstill, with everyone glued to their screens as news anchors around the world react in real time to the shocking evidence. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 At The Happy Crane, Parry gives the char siu treatment to rich Iberico pork jowl, steams and grinds his own rice for the crab rice roll, and tosses Monterey abalone and Jimmy Nardello peppers into a smoking wok with XO sauce. — Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 Not necessarily that the basketball becomes easier, but each minute is so tense, both teams are so focused and each possession is so tight that the winner is often decided by which team — or player — can execute when the game grinds to a halt. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 4 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinds

Noun

In the arrest affidavit, Ted Barnett told investigators that the scratches on his body were from an Ultimate Frisbee tournament that happened the previous weekend.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
According to Matthews, dust can be abrasive, and wood can be very sensitive to scratches.

— Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of scratches

Noun

But the upward trajectory will surely end soon, and as teams become more familiar with the various routines, the specialist coaches must start to earn their money in the defensive penalty area.

— George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Organizations often spend substantial energy articulating ambitious outcomes while devoting less attention to the routines that make those outcomes possible.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of routines

Verb

Experience in commercial roles often sharpens a leader’s focus on value proposition—truly understanding what differentiates an offering and why a customer would choose it.

— Andy Watts, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Blind, which follows a writer whose loss of sight sharpens her creative imagination, premiered in Sundance and Berlin.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharpens

Verb

At its center is wild soybean extract fermented for a whopping 120 hours, a process that breaks down the ingredient's components and creates a lightweight, nourishing formula that smooths the look of skin texture and keeps excess sebum in check.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
This method smooths the rocks and rounds the edges, giving them a more polished look and feel.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of smooths

Cite this Entry

Style

“Grinds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinds. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of grinds

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on grinds

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

prowess

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes