scratch 1 of 2

scratch

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to scrape
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface scratched his arm on a branch

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to rub
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the branches of the willow tree scratch against the windowpane whenever the wind blows

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to scribble
to write or draw hastily or carelessly scratched a quick doodle in the margins

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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 scratch
Noun
Building iPhones from scratch in the US will be extremely difficult even for cash-rich Apple. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 May 2025 These keep your car free from scratches or dents, but not every vehicle comes with a trailer hitch. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Verb
For materials that could scratch, such as china, copper, or glass, opt for a purple or blue scouring pad, which is a finer grade. Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025 All the pieces were well-wrapped, so nothing got scratched or dented en route. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
  • His round wasn’t without its bumps and scrapes, with bogeys on 1, 11 and 13 but his late round surge took him from three shots back of the lead to three shots ahead of his nearest chaser.
    Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • Tilt skillet so eggs fill bare spots; scrape cooked eggs down from sides of skillet, and cook until just set, about 30 seconds.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • The cash is transferred in minutes, though this depends on your bank.
    Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 10 May 2025
  • The farm is 37 minutes west of Kansas City and is cash only.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • It’s got a wide toe box, soft cushioning, and an upper that grips the ankles comfortably without rubbing the Achilles.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 11 May 2025
  • The project has been anchored by the relentless efforts of Wood and Orr, experts in rubbing elbows and working a crowd and the phones.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Photos also appear to show that protesters scribbled messages on desks.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 8 May 2025
  • Mark Twain scribbled this fragment in a journal around 1891, just a few years shy of sixty himself.
    Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • My assumption is that most rational human beings would happily stay in a warm and cozy office and simply listen to the building creak and groan under the force of the violent gusts.
    Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The set is a ship’s deck that tilts and creaks ominously while a screen plays eerily textured footage of a roiling ocean.
    Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Combs himself might have alluded to a propensity to stash money away in the 1997 hit that helped launch his rapping career after years as a producer and impresario.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Although Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest oil exporter, the kingdom and neighboring countries are using money from energy sales to diversify their economies.
    Juliana Liu, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Thorne also wrote Toxic Town, also streamed by Netflix, telling the real-life story of the Corby case that occurred in the 1980s and ‘90s, when numerous children were born with birth defects after a toxic waste site was established near the town in Northamptonshire, UK.
    Caroline Frost, Deadline, 10 May 2025
  • Sarah, who is an avid diver, has also written two books about her experiences: Noodle Loses Dad, a 2020 children’s book about loss, grief and blended families, and her memoir, A Time for Truth: My Father Jason and My Search for Justice and Healing, released in February 2025.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • That’s how many people lost money on Trump’s meme coin, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.
    Zach Everson, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • And his whole presidency began with launching tools for bribery, meme coins to fleece working people and move around money in the dark, extortion settlements from media companies and law firms who gladly pay them.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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