grind down

grind down
verb
rule a country as a tyrant
Syn: ↑tyrannize, ↑tyrannise
Derivationally related forms: ↑tyrant (for: ↑tyrannize)
Hypernyms: ↑dictate
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

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transitive verb
: to repress harshly : keep rigidly under control or in a state of submission

the nobility ground down the peasants with an infinite variety of petty exactions

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ˌgrind ˈdown [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they grind down he/she/it grinds down present participle grinding down past tense ground down past participle ground down] phrasal verb
to treat someone in a cruel way over a long period and gradually destroy their confidence or strength
Thesaurus: to be cruel or unkind to someonesynonym
Main entry: grind

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grind down [phrasal verb]
1 grind down (something) or grind (something) down : to make (something hard) smaller and smoother by gradually rubbing off tiny bits

The old dog's teeth had been ground down by use.

2 grind down (someone or something) or grind (someone or something) down : to weaken or destroy (someone or something) gradually

Poverty ground her spirit down.

These people have been ground down by years of oppression.

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Main Entry:grind

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • grind down — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms grind down : present tense I/you/we/they grind down he/she/it grinds down present participle grinding down past tense ground down past participle ground down to treat someone in a cruel way over a long period… …   English dictionary

  • grind down — PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone grinds you down, you mean that they treat you very harshly and cruelly, reducing your confidence or your will to resist them. [V n P] You see, said Hughes, there s people who want to humiliate you and grind… …   English dictionary

  • grind down — verb To weaken someone morale over a long period. Im living in a world where I dont really fit …   Wiktionary

  • grind down a knife — sharpen the blade of a knife …   English contemporary dictionary

  • grind — ► VERB (past and past part. ground) 1) reduce to small particles or powder by crushing. 2) sharpen, smooth, or produce by crushing or friction. 3) rub together or move gratingly. 4) (grind down) wear (someone) down with harsh treatment. 5) ( …   English terms dictionary

  • grind — grind1 [graınd] v past tense and past participle ground [graund] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(into small pieces)¦ 2¦(smooth/sharp)¦ 3¦(press)¦ 4 grind your teeth 5 grind to a halt Phrasal verbs  grind somebody<=>down  grind on  grind something<=>out… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • grind — [c]/graɪnd / (say gruynd) verb (ground or, Rare, grinded, grinding) –verb (t) 1. to wear, smooth, or sharpen by friction; whet: to grind a lens; to grind an axe. 2. to reduce to fine particles as by pounding or crushing; bray, triturate, or… …  

  • grind — Synonyms and related words: ablate, abrade, abrase, aculeate, acuminate, afflict, agonize, ail, application, atomize, badger, barb, bark, beast of burden, beat, beat down, beaten path, belch, bibliolater, bibliolatrist, bibliomane, bibliomaniac,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • grind — grind1 [ graınd ] (past tense and past participle ground [ graund ] ) verb ** 1. ) grind or grind up transitive to break something into very small pieces or powder, by using a machine or by crushing it between two hard surfaces: The mill was used …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • grind — I UK [ɡraɪnd] / US verb Word forms grind : present tense I/you/we/they grind he/she/it grinds present participle grinding past tense ground UK [ɡraʊnd] / US past participle ground ** 1) grind or grind up [transitive] to break something into very… …   English dictionary

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