grub 1 of 2

noun

Definition of grubnext
1
as in food
substances intended to be eaten after the game, we headed to the diner for some hearty grub

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2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work you may have to spend some time working as a grub before challenging work comes your way

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grub

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrəb How to pronounce grub (audio)
as in to labor
to devote serious and sustained effort grubbing away at the yard work before the first snow of the season

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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 grub
Noun
They are considered beneficial insects that pollinate flowers and prey on grubs and beetles. — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 Their diet consists primarily of insects and other soil-dwelling creatures, including earthworms and grubs. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
Countless publications and companies, whether The Washington Post or Toast, have created tipping guides to help consumers wade through this morass of money grubbing. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, 26 June 2024 So much of the story takes place firmly in and on the ground, whether its characters are grubbing around the countryside or descending six feet under. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for grub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grub
  1. food
  2. laborer
  3. labor
  4. provisions
  5. worker
  6. struggle
  7. bread
  8. slave
Noun
  • The tests included transporting packages, medical supplies, food, water, and industrial equipment, providing a practical demonstration of the aircraft’s autonomous cargo capabilities.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to speech, our management of a localized fire for food, safety, and comfort is another uniquely human behavior, one that seems to have coincided with the development of complex spoken language.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of food
Noun
  • Activists suspect that Flock’s data has been used to plan immigration raids, which frequently target hardware store parking lots where migrant day-laborers often wait for work.
    — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
  • His father, Charles, had expanded the New Jersey real estate development business his grandfather, a Polish Holocaust survivor, had begun after starting out as a construction laborer.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of laborer
Verb
  • Humans engaged user interfaces to command software and engage with outputs like dashboards, while APIs labored in the background.
    — George C. Lee II, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Thoroughly unimpressed by her suburban idyll, and evidently unmoved by her responsibilities as wife and mother, Denise labors in her basement on a novel whose protagonist wishes to forsake her family for a life in New York.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of labor
Noun
  • The Coastal Commission signed off on the project a few years ago, after tussles over low-cost housing provisions during the course of erecting yet another luxury hotel.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Put simply, penalty relief describes the broader set of IRS provisions that can help taxpayers avoid, reduce or remove certain penalties.
    — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of provisions
Noun
  • Wichai Yuankham, 35, a factory worker who came to watch the ships arrive, said the naval visit was a welcome boost to the local economy.
    — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Changing majors and career paths The CNBC survey found that almost 40% of students and workers enrolled in school have considered changing their major, field of study or coursework due to AI, rising to 44% for students who are not employed.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of worker
Verb
  • Three days later, the team brought in Moody, the former Michigan standout who has also struggled at times in his young career.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Restaurants and private grocery stores are struggling to stay open because of higher supply costs and lower consumption.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle
Noun
  • Pierre’s Instagram business account for her viral Japanese milk-bread cinnamon rolls boasts over 153,000 followers.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Significant portions of protein, fiber, and nutrients are lost in the processing, although some vitamins are added back to items like bread and pasta to enrich them.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of bread
Noun
  • The movie follows Lucius’ return to Rome as a slave, forced to compete in gladiator fights as his father Maximus (Crowe’s character from the original movie) did before him.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • New York Life Insurance Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company and American International Group, known as AIG, were some of the businesses that listed previously disclosed ties to slaves and slaveholders.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of slave

Browse Nearby Words

grow up
grub
grub (about)
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Cite this Entry

“Grub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grub. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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