scrabble

1 of 2

verb

scrab·ble ˈskra-bəl

scrabbled; scrabbling ˈskra-b(ə-)liŋ

Synonyms of scrabble next

intransitive verb

: scrawl, scribble

: to scratch, claw, or grope about clumsily or frantically

: scramble, clamber

: to struggle by or as if by scraping or scratching

scrabble for survival

transitive verb

: scramble

: scribble

scrabbler

ˈskra-b(ə-)lər

noun

scrabble

2 of 2

noun

: scramble

: scribble

: a repeated scratching or clawing

Examples of scrabble in a Sentence

Verb She scrabbled around in her handbag for a pen. He scrabbled at the slippery rock. Noun it'll be a long scrabble to pull ourselves out of poverty

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Wild turkeys would emerge out of nowhere, scrabbling ahead of us in a conga line before flying into the trees. —

Chris Bohjalian, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 Translated by Johnny Lorenz This powerful debut novel charts the plight of Brazil’s poorest farmers scrabbling for subsistence on the land their enslaved ancestors worked. —

Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 1 June 2023 Manuel, 29, and his wife Tamara, finally decided to flee Venezuela with their children, after years scrabbling to secure food and other basic necessities. —

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 15 Apr. 2023 Swiss lawmakers have since scrabbled together six counterproposals. —

Erika Solomon, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2023 At the novel’s outset, Ezra scrabbles through his world with honest hunger and understandable, if sometimes pedantic, disdain for those with more than him. —

Casey McQuiston, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023 Now, airports from New Zealand to Canada are scrabbling for public support in a bid to remain open. —

Natasha Frost, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2020 Russia cut the supply for several days, forcing Belarus to scrabble for other energy sources before some supplies resumed. —

Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2020 People weren’t exactly scrabbling to fight over a seat. —

Jonathan Vatner, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2020

Noun

In the scrabble of all against all, Poulain continues, physical prowess became more important than fertility. —

Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 28 July 2021 In the early 90s, Nigeria’s central government recognized scrabble as a sport. —

Oluwatosin Adeshokan, Quartz Africa, 8 Nov. 2019 Across the street from her, a kinetic scrabble of orange and blue runs the height of a five-story brick building like an electric charge. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2019 Anthony was happiest being with family & friends, and enjoyed playing scrabble & cards. —

courant.com, 10 July 2019 Here is the scrabble of historical experience before history has laid down its narrative paths. —

Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2016 Then there was the scrabble of a key at a lock, and the other door, the one facing him, that led to the free world, opened. —

Andrew Liptak, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2018 Mémère loved family gatherings and was ready anytime for a game of scrabble, cards, the challenge of a good puzzle or a computer game. —

courant.com, 5 Mar. 2018 Spoelstra masks this small flaw by getting his group to outwork teams in scrabbles for loose balls. —

Karl Bullock, SI.com, 1 Feb. 2018 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scrabble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.