graze 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈgrāz How to pronounce graze (audio)
Definition of grazenext
as in to pasture
to feed on grass or herbs cows grazing in the meadow

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graze

2 of 3

verb (2)

1
as in to scrape
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface I grazed my elbow diving for the ball

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing the volleyball just grazed my face, so I'm okay

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

graze

3 of 3

noun

as in bruise
an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface a stumble that resulted in nothing more serious than a graze on the knee

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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 graze
Verb
Our old buffalo got through the night unmolested, and was returned to his herd to graze. — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026 The goats have been grazing in different areas for more than 500 days in a row. — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
The 25-year-old woman was declared dead at the scene, while the other woman was taken to a hospital with a graze gunshot wound. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 These mesmerizing Embden geese graze in large gaggles throughout the tea fields. — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for graze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for graze
  1. pasture
  2. scrape
  3. brush
  4. bruise
  5. feed
  6. scratch
  7. kiss
  8. abrasion
Verb
  • Sadly, the last Blockbuster (aside from one defiant Bend, Oregon, outlier) went out to pasture in 2014, and independent video stores are an increasingly rare sight.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
  • In Wisconsin, dairy farms are smaller, herds are smaller, and cows are usually sent out to pasture to graze in good weather, which is not easy to come by in Wisconsin.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of pasture
Verb
  • Together, the family scraped together $60,000 from savings and a Small Business Administration loan and opened Panda Inn in Pasadena, California, in 1973.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Burger King has 286 locations in Ohio, according to the data-scraping website ScrapeHero.
    — Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrape
Verb
  • There’s so little cohesion from week to week that last episode’s dramatic cliffhanger — Susan in handcuffs after Rhonda accuses her of kidnapping — is brushed off in an aside in the opening scene.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Lightly brush the dough with buttermilk and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of brush
Noun
  • Worth noting Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup due to a right elbow bruise.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • One of the book’s more memorable revelations details a physical altercation with his brother that Harry claimed left him with cuts and bruises.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of bruise
Verb
  • That plant -- a 600-megawatt solar field and 350-megawatt battery solar facility -- will feed the grid from which Google's West Memphis data center will draw massive power.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Boscagli finds Pascal Gross, who feeds the ball into the feet of Wieffer, who can then pass to Diego Gomez.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of feed
Verb
  • Its uniquely wide view will also help scientists decode the intricacies of dark matter and dark energy while perhaps clearing up some contradictions about our universe that scientists have been scratching their heads over for decades.
    — Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Culturally, college football scratches the human itch for tribalism, which America’s ethos of individualism fortunately discourages.
    — George F. Will, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • The jeweler recently posted up-close photos of the ring on Instagram, as well as a snap of Lee wearing a white veil and kissing Posty’s head while showing off the sparkling rock on her finger to the camera.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026
  • On a recent day, Ramadhan’s oldest child, not even 3, kissed the twins on the cheeks and recognized a photo of their mother.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of kiss
Noun
  • Remove Bits and Bobs Be sure to remove pins or buckles from clothing items before placing them in the washer—zip the zippers on your clothing, close snaps and hooks, and secure Velcro to prevent snags and abrasion.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Leading the charge in technology is Goatek, a proprietary outsole platform that Nike says delivers a 45 percent improvement in wet traction and 25 percent greater resistance to abrasions compared to previous ACG outsoles.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of abrasion

Browse Nearby Words

grays
graze
grazed
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Cite this Entry

“Graze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/graze. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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