grinds 1 of 2

plural of grind
1
as in scratches
a harsh grating sound the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room

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2
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

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grinds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of grind
1
2
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

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3
as in sharpens
to make sharp or sharper better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree

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

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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 grinds
Noun
It’s finished with a generous sprinkling of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025 And Destiny 2 has had some bad grinds in the past. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
As the summer season grinds to a near halt, several holdover titles rounded out the top five. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Aug. 2025 As Russia’s war machine grinds forward in eastern Ukraine, there is another offensive being waged far beyond the front line. Rachel Wilson, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025 This contrasts sharply with traditional recycling, which grinds panels into powder and treats the material with aggressive chemicals. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinds
Noun
  • The same method as cleaning linoleum works for buffing scratches or scuffs out of patent leather, soft white leather, sneaker midsoles, or vinyl.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
  • On the flip side, scratches can be complicated to remove, and any fingerprints and hard water can leave marks on your sink.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • By comparison, his romantic rival Archie (Devon Bostick) is a weirdo, but a more believable one, and Bostick’s banter with Ferreira has a specific kind of romantic chemistry common to hyperintelligent, socially awkward nerds.
    Katie Rife, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
  • My brother was a poet, classics scholar, and charismatic leader of nerds who blossomed into a handsome surfer and then nosedived into schizophrenia and a life of unfiltered Camel cigarettes, caffeine, and antipsychotics.
    Kim Gordon, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Some were already reporting such symptoms as weakness, fatigue, fever, sweats and an unpleasant rash — classic signs of the resurgence of the virus.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The Farktop Trench Coat is a true fall staple that instantly pulls an outfit together and makes even sweats look polished.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The everything shower has nothing on our PEOPLE testers’ routines.
    Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
  • In addition, people may experience anxiety or depression related to summer's end and the return to school and work routines, Prism Medical Products says.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • These lumps typically develop in areas of the body where the skin rubs together, and can be recurrent.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Today's their day for extra treats, belly rubs, and squirrel-chasing adventures at the park!
    Ronnie Li, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Capital might fuel expansion, but the process also sharpens leadership skills, deepens industry relationships and often reveals operational blind spots.
    Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Here, the messenger planet sharpens our focus and general attunement, urging us to choose our words and actions carefully.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The spiral layer also provides a deeper exfoliation that scrapes off dead cells, resulting in smoother, silkier skin.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The awfulness of it scrapes my veins, turning everything orange and raw.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The man simply pounds the zone.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grinds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinds. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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