Definitions

grain of salt

NOUN

reservation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

doubt restriction skepticism

STRONG

catch circumscription demur hesitancy kicker provision proviso qualification scruple string strings terms

WEAK

fine print

Antonyms

WEAK

openness

NOUN

restriction

Synonyms

STRONGEST

check condition constraint control curb limit regulation restraint rule stipulation stricture

STRONG

bounds brake catch circumscription confinement containment contraction cramp custody demarcation disability glitch hang-up inhibition limitation limits lock qualification reservation stint string

WEAK

ball and chain excess baggage fine print no-no small difficulty stumbling block

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allowance liberation permission

STRONG

advantage freedom help

WEAK

enlargement expansion release

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Take everything she says with a grain of salt.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Just as important, I’m using AI to tame my human susceptibility to praise, so that when I do get a sycophantic response to my prompts, I take it with a hearty grain of salt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

While China hit its growth target last year, it should be taken with "a grain of salt", as other data suggests a weaker economic picture, said Georgetown University policy researcher Ning Leng.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Many analysts have learned to take Musk's utterances with a grain of salt after earlier predictions about the nearness of fully autonomous driving didn't come to pass.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

Now add one grain of salt to any table and let Bob Evans walk among them.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

grain of salt

Example Sentences

Related Words