as in struggle
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
it'll be a long scrabble to pull ourselves out of poverty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to climb
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling
we scrabbled up a sand dune to get a better view of the sea
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to fumble
to search for something blindly or uncertainly
he frantically scrabbled through the storage chest looking for the needed documents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrabble
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
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
He’s blessed with a tense, scrabbling physicality on screen, plus a baby-Brando glower beneath a head of striking blond curls, and Nemes directs him into a stance of braced, vulnerable defensiveness that serves the film’s purposes well — even if his character, too, wants for interior light.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrabble
Noun
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
Verb
Lawrence also finds a naivete to Grace’s agony: After scrabbling so hard at the walls that her fingertips bleed, Grace acts like a wounded child, taken aback by her own strength.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
He’s blessed with a tense, scrabbling physicality on screen, plus a baby-Brando glower beneath a head of striking blond curls, and Nemes directs him into a stance of braced, vulnerable defensiveness that serves the film’s purposes well — even if his character, too, wants for interior light.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrabble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrabble
Noun
-
The matchup between the two incumbent Republicans highlights a greater struggle of generational change that both parties are facing.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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For many in the middle and lower tiers, simply staying afloat now feels like a struggle.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Forecast highs climb from the lower 80s Wednesday to the mid-80s Thursday through Sunday as a strong ridge of high pressure builds across the West.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area plans to shut down its winter operations several weeks earlier than usual as temperatures in the Boise area climb around 20 degrees above average next week, adding to a challenging season marked by warm weather and little snow.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a stunning blowout Friday night, KU fumbled its conference tournament semifinal against the Houston Cougars, losing 69-47.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Mar. 2026
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This alone can shave valuable minutes off your screening and help you to breeze through the scanner instead of fumbling at the bins.—
Kayla Kitts,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The war inside The game was ultimately decided by the battle inside the paint as TCU’s frontline of Punch and junior center Xavier Edmonds scrapped and clawed with Kansas’ talented big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
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He was involved in multiple relegation battles and believes having the right mindset is key.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Two drones were intercepted by British Typhoon and F-35 warplanes that were scrambled from the air base later that day.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Having activities lined up ahead of time means parents aren’t scrambling for ideas in the moment — a strategy that benefits the whole family.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From the feathery, full brows to lips that look a little lived in, with smudgy, undefined edges, Park’s calling card has become her face card.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Yurtseven scored no points but grabbed four rebounds while looking a step or two slow on defense.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But in this fight, the Americans are the only ones who use Tomahawks, and the evidence is pointing toward that specific missile.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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In one episode, the crew of the Red Dwarf visits an Earth on which time moves backwards, culminating in a slapstick reverse Wild West-style bar fight that sees teeth reappear in mouths, windows reassemble, and chairs unbreak over heads.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The film shows places of uncommon beauty, along with the throngs of visitors who clamber to see them and, crucially, preserve their experiences in photos.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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On board, passengers chat politics in Finnish dining cars, clamber into couchettes above strangers on the Trans-Siberian, and share samosas on India’s many raucous mail trains.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrabble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrabble. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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