scratchier; scratchiest
1
: having a rough sound : having a sound like the sound made when something sharp or rough rubs against a surface or object
listening to scratchy old records
He has a scratchy [=gravelly] voice.
2
informal
: rough and irritating to the skin : likely to make you itch
The costume is made from scratchy material.
3
: swollen and sore
He is sick with a scratchy throat.
4
: written in a careless way that is difficult to read
I could barely read her scratchy notes.
Cite this Entry
“Scratchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/scratchy. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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