1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grate
The sounds of running water, hard objects (like buttons on a pair of jeans) tumbling around, and the machine's signals can be grating for those trying to sleep.
—
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
For an extra melty top, grate the Cheddar fresh.
—Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026
Divide grated Gruyere cheese and bacon evenly among muffin cups.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
What stood out for me, however, was his total submission to the grating demands of retail politics.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grate
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
For an extra melty top, grate the Cheddar fresh.
—Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026
Divide grated Gruyere cheese and bacon evenly among muffin cups.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
What stood out for me, however, was his total submission to the grating demands of retail politics.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grate
Verb
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As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the president doesn’t get annoyed with him once or twice.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
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Maybe annoyed enough to fix it.—
Nathan Edwards,
The Verge,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Twice in the last three years, and also in 2011, Repole brought a promising horse to the Derby and had to scratch him before post time.—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Unlike nylon brushes, silicone ones carry no risk of scratching or removing paint from your bottle.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is where the conspiracy theories begin to grit their teeth.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Eye protection keeps grime and grit out of your eyes.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With Minnesota viewing them as soft, the Nuggets hardly seem bothered by the criticism.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Fuqua and Logan can’t be bothered to figure it out.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Smart skidded across the floor for a loose ball and was fouled, a jaw-scraping effort that forced him to check his teeth on his way up from the hardwood.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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There's other data that has been scraped or pulled through hacks or leaks that can be sold for criminals to obtain.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Joining Stuart’s quest are his girlfriend, Denise (Lapkus); geologist buddy Bert (Posehn); and irritating quantum physicist Barry Kripke (Bowie).—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Be Gentle, Be Kind Detangling Spray is no different and is free from fragrance and essential oils, two common ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Until sound effects, tones, and grating atmospheres rub right up against the dialogue.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
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An employee washed hands for less than 10 seconds at the sushi bar, and the inspector wants to see 10-15 seconds of your hands rubbing each other.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects.—
Sarah Linn
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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