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

For anyone who grinds fresh every morning and chases single-origin lots, online talk about mold and mycotoxins in coffee tends to raise a practical question about how the stuff gets onto beans in the first place. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 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 As Poles grinds through his Sunday, The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer offer this roster projection. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Today, the company has a staff of about 35 and roasts, winnows, and grinds chocolate from scratch at its factory in Somerville. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinds

Noun

For scratches or minor dings from fender benders, owners can replace the exterior body panels themselves.

— Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026
Not only was there the initial flare-up, but now there were huge red scratches and hives.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of scratches

Noun

Pieces made for winter nights in and out complete the lineup, with cozy sweats, including the signature Gap logo hoodie, and a high-neck black dress in the mix.

— Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
The outerwear, pants, shorts, sweats and T-shirts are created from high-end materials but designed to be classic and quiet.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sweats

Noun

Banana Ball combines baseball with dance routines, trick plays and fan interaction.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Aaron Button is a programmable shortcut system made up of three buttons built into Pitaka’s Edge smartphone case that can be used to trigger smart home routines, activate AI tools, control connected devices, and more.

— TIME Staff, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of routines

Verb

Vapor rubs containing combinations of camphor, eucalyptus and menthol oils may provide some relief for nighttime cough and cold symptoms when applied to the chest and neck.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
There’s a slickness to the carnage that rubs uncomfortably against the film’s humanist ethos, rendering artificial (for all Shen Teng’s trembling and mouth-contorting labors) the horrific tragedies that befall its characters.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rubs

Verb

Still, Mercury in your sign simultaneously sharpens your instincts while also fueling your anxiety, and just as Saturn retrograde challenges you to question whether your routines and habits are actually serving you.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Oct. 2026
Read alongside the research, Harari’s argument sharpens the problem.

— Deepa Nagraj, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of sharpens

Verb

All of this pillow talk smooths Kate’s path to selling Hal on her idea of extracting the bodies from the Russian sub.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026
The setup smooths the music’s flux without sacrificing the flavor of all the places and styles the album spans.

— Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026