grinding 1 of 2

Definition of grindingnext

grinding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grind
1
2
as in gritting
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

3
as in sharpening
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

4
5
as in scratching
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface ground the rock against the stone wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6

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 grinding
Verb
Their experiments confirmed that adding a single squirt of water to coffee beans before grinding can significantly reduce the static electric charge on the resulting grounds. ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026 This stock was a disaster from May 2025 through the November lows near $48, losing roughly half its value in a grinding downtrend. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026 Power outages also prevent Obiols Sobredo from grinding food for his goats, which produce less milk because of insufficient nutrition. ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 The researchers used high-resolution grinding tomography and an artificial intelligence model to find the fossils, which were located in rock samples that had been preserved in seafloor sediments found in Japan and Vancouver Island from 100 to 72 million years ago. Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026 The team used grinding tomography, a 3D imaging technique, along with an artificial intelligence model, to carry out the research. Adam England, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 The study authors found the specimens by using a 3D-imaging technique called grinding tomography to create high-resolution datasets, and an AI model, according to the study. Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026 Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026 Best Krups coffee grinders This is perfect for precision grinding for cold brew, espresso and pour-over coffee. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinding
Adjective
  • Recently, internet infrastructure provider Cloudflare likened the platform to North Korean hackers for bypassing anti-scraping protections on websites.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Harvest quinoa by hitting the flower stalks against a hard surface or rubbing them between your hands to separate the seeds from the flower parts or chaff.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
  • 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
  • The director, a graduate of the AFI conservatory, spent two summers growing up gritting his teeth at an all-boys sleepaway sports camp.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
  • Bob Donnan / Imagn Images North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick picked up a second straight ACC win on Saturday, gritting to a 20-15 victory over Stanford in Chapel Hill.
    Justin Williams, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Mercury moves through your 1st House of Identity, sharpening your voice and making your words more direct than usual.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
  • According to Plunge, cold-water immersion triggers norepinephrine, a chemical messenger that delivers a burst of energy while sharpening focus.
    Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Various owners have taken the reins over the years, but all were committed to preserving the bar’s old-school character rather than polishing, upgrading, or updating it away.
    Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Either way, regularly polishing your countertops will help keep your kitchen looking well-maintained and refreshed.
    Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Unlike nylon brushes, silicone ones carry no risk of scratching or removing paint from your bottle.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • And he is viewed as a prospect who is just scratching the surface.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The goal, Hall’s second of the series, came with less than five minutes left in a wild and physical frame in which Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven knocked out Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin with a crushing hit and Ottawa forward Ridly Greig tried to run roughshod on the Canes.
    Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Store them in one layer to avoid crushing, and keep them in cool, dry conditions in the fridge to hinder mold growth.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Giant, thrilling and abrasive, is full of rewards.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Unlike the machines currently being assembled to dig through the abrasive rock of the New Jersey Palisades for the tunnel’s first leg, these machines will be designed to work in the soft soil of the Hudson’s riverbed.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinding. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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