GRATING Synonyms: 240 Similar and Opposite Words

grating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of grating

as in loud

disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense the mix of colors in that painting is terribly grating

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hoarse

harsh and dry in sound with a grating voice, she croaked a feeble "hello"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grate

as in annoying

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scratching

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sled grated along the bare pavement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scraping

to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound he grated the pieces of metal together

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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 grating

Adjective

Imagine the most grating podcast advert in the world. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 30 Apr. 2026 His behavior was so grating that even host Rece Davis, the normally stoic straightman, got into a shouting match with Kiper. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Verb

Crofton Box Grater The classic Crofton Box Grater gives you multiple grating options in one compact kitchen tool. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2026 Known for having various sizes of holes on each side, the box grater is excellent for grating vegetables like zucchini, potatoes, and even savory fruits like tomatoes and cucumbers. — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grating

Adjective

To try to ease tensions during loud stretches of construction, Zuckerberg’s staff handed out gifts like noise-canceling headphones.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
But just moments later, as the name of lead star Andrew Scott appeared on stage, the loud snuffles were replaced with whoops and, in rather uncharacteristically British style, a standing ovation for the actor.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of loud

Adjective

Now life was like that; some days fine and firm and full of whatever, while other days the hoarse bark of the neighbors’ dog or a friend’s grim diagnosis and her body succumbed to an emotional gravity that pulled her into a free fall.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Singers didn’t want their voices to get hoarse over the long night or week.

— Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hoarse

Verb

Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.

— Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.

— Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of annoying

Verb

Well, then the sound of television writer Joe Wiseman clearing his throat over and over again might as well be Gilbert Gottfried’s laugh scratching against a chalkboard.

— Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
That tale of two vaccines has experts scratching their heads.

— Amanda Erickson, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of scratching

Adjective

Growing up under the harsh system of segregation influenced Pillay's interest in human rights and the law.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Growing up under the harsh system of segregation influenced Pillay’s interest in human rights and the law.

— Stefanie Dazio, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of harsh

Adjective

Over three decades in stand-up comedy, Bill Burr has gained a reputation for saying, with gruff conviction and political fire, the thing on everyone’s mind.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
We were taught by a gruff cockney called Fred Waring, who had participated in the D-Day landings in a regiment that had fought its way across Europe towards Berlin and liberated the concentration camp at Belsen.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of gruff

Verb

Tactics such as ragebait have only added to the fatigue, irritating enthusiasts already frustrated by the relentless churn of slop.

— Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
The first step to brighter-looking underarms is figuring out what might be irritating them in the first place.

— Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of irritating

Browse Nearby Words

gratifyingly

grating

gratis

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Grating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grating. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grating

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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