Grinds away is a phrase commonly used to refer to persistent or laborious effort in pursuing a goal or task. There are several synonyms for this phrase that can be used to convey this same meaning. These synonyms include words such as toil, labor, grind, sweat, strive, slog, toil, and exert effort. Each of these words suggests a sense of hard work and commitment put into achieving a particular goal or desired outcome. They can all be used to describe the arduous process of working towards a challenging goal, such as mastering a new skill, completing a difficult task, or overcoming a significant obstacle.