scratchier; scratchiest
1
: marked or made with scratches
scratchy drawing
scratchy handwriting
3
: making a scratching noise
4
: uneven in quality : ragged
5
: causing tingling or itching : irritating
scratchy wool
6
: somewhat inflamed and sore
a scratchy throat
Examples of scratchy in a Sentence
listening to scratchy old records
The costume is made from scratchy material.
He is sick with a scratchy throat.
Recent Examples on the Web
The room itself, gray and brown, has a hardness, reinforced by Matisse’s intentionally visible, scratchy revisions and by the (unintentional) craquelure in the wall above Laurette’s body.
—
Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 11 July 2024
Itchy eyes may feel like a tickling, burning, or scratchy sensation that prompts an urge to rub or scratch your eyes for relief.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 11 July 2024
An excess can leave them scratchy because the fibers in the towels never quite rinse clean.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 9 May 2024
Just like drinking tea or eating soup, water soothes a dry, scratchy throat.22
When To Consult a Healthcare Provider
An acute cough typically goes away on its own within three weeks.
—Jessica Migala, Health, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for scratchy 
Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 11 July 2024
Itchy eyes may feel like a tickling, burning, or scratchy sensation that prompts an urge to rub or scratch your eyes for relief.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 11 July 2024
An excess can leave them scratchy because the fibers in the towels never quite rinse clean.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 9 May 2024
Just like drinking tea or eating soup, water soothes a dry, scratchy throat.22
When To Consult a Healthcare Provider
An acute cough typically goes away on its own within three weeks.
—Jessica Migala, Health, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for scratchy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scratchy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Scratchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scratchy. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scratchy
adjective
scratchier; scratchiest
1
: likely to scratch or make sore or raw : prickly
scratchy woolens
2
: making a scratching noise
3
: marked or made with scratches
a scratchy surface
scratchy handwriting
4
: uneven in quality : ragged
played a scratchy game of golf
5
: somewhat sore
a scratchy throat
scratchiness
noun
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