1

scrunch

verb \ ˈskrənch , ˈskru̇nch \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Examples: scrunch in a Sentence

Definition of scrunch

scrunched; scrunching; scrunches

transitive verb

1 : crunch, crush

2 a : to draw or squeeze together tightly

b : crumple —often used with up

c : to cause (something, such as one's features) to draw together —usually used with up

intransitive verb

1 : to move with or make a crunching sound

2 : crouch, hunch; also : squeeze

See scrunch defined for English-language learners

See scrunch defined for kids

Examples of scrunch in a Sentence

I scrunched down in the chair.
I scrunched the fabric in my hand.

Recent Examples of scrunch from the Web

Summerfest, 1998: A woman wearing a pink halter top and gold jewelry rubbed sunscreen on her daughter's scrunched nose.

— elena weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Summerfest 1998 featured scrunchies, tie-dye and Widespread Panic," 28 June 2018
At the café, Dehlin scrunches his long legs into our booth.

— sarah scoles, Longreads, "Meet the New Mormons," 8 June 2018
His head is bopping, his feet are tapping, his face is slightly scrunched, all while appearing oblivious to the surrounding passengers slipping him the side-eye, both left and right.

— grace dickinson, Philly.com, "How to slay at the U.S. Air Guitar Regional Championships in Philadelphia," 27 June 2018
Being awake, truly awake, not lying in bed with my eyes scrunched closed, felt deviant.

— amanda shapiro, Bon Appetit, "How Learning to Love Insomnia Finally Put Me to Sleep," 29 May 2018
So, after misting on the hairspray and breaking up the curls, Marjan will rub a thin layer of Fatboy Sea Salt Pomade between her hands and scrunch it in to the ends of the hair to add some piece-y texture and hold.

— chloe metzger, Marie Claire, "Finally: How to Make Your Aggressively Straight Hair Hold a Curl," 29 May 2018
Spray a bunch in and scrunch the hair with your hands or dry with a diffuser for lots of kinky fun curl.

— kaitlyn frey, PEOPLE.com, "Shop Every Beauty Product Drew Barrymore Swears By," 24 May 2018
As a result, part of an eagle with a lot of feathers was scrunched on Liberty‘s head, and a circle of stars was added.

— lily rothman, Time, "The Surprisingly Complicated Symbolism of the Freedom Statue Mentioned in Trump's State of the Union," 1 Feb. 2018
My eyes shut and face scrunched before finally chowing down.

— stephanie apstein, SI.com, "Nine Innings: How the Blue Jays Are Riding Out Their Hot Start, Bartolo's Sneaky Speed and Javier Baez's Transformation," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scrunch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of scrunch

alteration of ¹crunch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1790

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

scrunch Synonyms

Synonyms

crinkle, crumple, rumple, wrinkle;

Antonyms

flatten, iron out, smooth, smoothen, uncrumple;

Near Antonyms

even, iron, press, straighten;

Related Words

corrugate, crease, crimp, fold, pleat, pucker, ruck;

crisp, ripple, ruffle;

contract, furrow, knit;

mess (up), muss (up);

2

scrunch

noun

Definition of scrunch

: a crunching sound

Recent Examples of scrunch from the Web

Just spray it onto hair, then twirl and scrunch strands for distressed-looking waves.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Bumble and Bumble’s Beach Wave Spray Has a New Scent," 14 May 2018
Long before Demna Gvesalia sent scrunches down the Balenciaga runway, the 85-year-old has been championing the divisive hair accessory.

— refinery29.com, "Photographic Proof Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Always Loved Scrunchies," 21 Mar. 2018
On Wednesday, outside of her gym, Kim was spotted squatting on the sidewalk in a pair of her signature ankle-scrunch sweats, a tank, and some Yeezy sneakers, concentrating very hard on this exact dilemma.

— rachel torgerson, Cosmopolitan, "This Pic of Kim K Wearing Sweats and Deciding on a Green Juice Wins the Internet Today," 26 Oct. 2017
To revive curls in a pinch, spray a mixture of half water and half leave-in conditioner on the ends of your hair, and scrunch or style as usual.

— brooke shunatona, Cosmopolitan, "18 Life-Changing Hacks for Curly Hair," 30 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scrunch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of scrunch

1857

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SCRUNCH Defined for English Language Learners

scrunch

verb

Definition of scrunch for English Language Learners

: to make your body lower or shorter by bending your legs, making your back bend forward, lowering your head, etc.
: to tighten the muscles of (your face or nose)
: to put (several or many people or things) in a space that is too small

SCRUNCH Defined for Kids

scrunch

verb \ ˈskrənch \

Definition of scrunch for Students

scrunched; scrunching

1 : to cause (as facial features) to draw together

2 : ¹crouch, hunch

… he … scrunched sideways until his back was against a small tree.
—Gary Paulsen, Hatchet

3 : to draw or squeeze together tightly

She scrunched her fists.

4 : crumple 1

5 : ¹crush 1

Learn More about scrunch

See words that rhyme with scrunch Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scrunch Nglish: Translation of scrunch for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

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