grinder

noun

grind·​er ˈgrīn-dər How to pronounce grinder (audio)
Synonyms of grindernext
1
a
: molar
b
grinders plural : teeth
2
: one that grinds
3
: a machine or device for grinding
4
: submarine entry 2 sense 2
5
: an athlete who succeeds through hard work and determination rather than exceptional skill

Synonyms of grinder

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of grinder in a Sentence

ordered a meatball grinder from the beach's concession stand
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This gift set pairs the grinder with Piper’s 50/50 blend of black and red peppercorns, portioned into four individual packets to ensure the spices stay fresh. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 With a swing to far-right populism, local production is being put through a political grinder, first in Javier Milei’s Argentina who decimated public-sector subsidies. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 It's adorned with shredded lettuce and tomato and served on a soft grinder roll from Buono's Italian Bakery. — Gail Ciampa, The Providence Journal, 11 Sep. 2026 Try your blender, electric coffee or spice grinder, or crushing flaxseed with a rolling pin to enjoy the benefits of this longstanding superfood. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grinder

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grinder was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing grinder

Rhymes for grinder

See All Rhymes for grinder

Browse Nearby Words

Grindelwald
grinder
grinder's green
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grinder. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

grinder

noun
grind·​er ˈgrīn-dər How to pronounce grinder (audio)
1
: one that grinds
2
: a large sandwich on a long split roll

More from Merriam-Webster on grinder

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grinder

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All