scrabble

1 of 2

verb

scrab·​ble ˈskra-bəl 

scrabbled; scrabbling ˈskra-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: scrawl, scribble

2

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

3

a

: scramble, clamber

b

: to struggle by or as if by scraping or scratching

scrabble for survival

transitive verb

1

: scramble

2

: scribble

scrabbler

ˈskra-b(ə-)lər 

noun

scrabble

2 of 2

noun

1

: scramble

2

: scribble

3

: a repeated scratching or clawing

Synonyms

Verb

• clamber
• climb
• scramble
• swarm

Noun

• battle
• fight
• fray
• struggle
• throes

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

For Trump’s Persian Gulf and Arab allies, the prospect of a repeat performance has left them scrabbling for a diplomatic off-ramp. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

People were scrabbling over these enormous piles far off in the distance. —Jane Siegel, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2025

Noun

The steering also lightens up as the 235-millimeter-wide rubber scrabbles to find grip, the wheels and tires smooth and floaty with just enough traction for rally racing fun. —Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

One-third of Americans drink regular Coke, which commands about 19 percent of soft drink sales, while other soft drinks scrabble for a distant second place at around 8 percent of the market. —Whizy Kim, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch schrabbelen to scratch

First Known Use

Verb

1537, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for scrabble

• babble
• babel
• dabble
• drabble
• gabble
• nabal
• rabble
• immeasurable

Kids Definition

scrabble

1 of 2 verb

scrab·​ble ˈskrab-əl 

scrabbled; scrabbling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to scratch or scrape about frantically with hands or paws

2

: scramble entry 1 sense 2

3

: to struggle by or as if by scraping or scratching

scrabble for a living

scrabbler

-(ə-)lər 

noun

scrabble

2 of 2 noun

: an act or instance of scrabbling