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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Big Sean has never shied away from sharing his mental health struggles.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Offense by committee with stable defense Without Curry and Butler, the Warriors’ offensive struggles were inevitable.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Visitors can climb to the top of the dome, getting up close and personal with the frescoes lining its interior, and then enjoying the 360-degree views from the terrace around the dome's cupola.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Being a tomboy accustomed to climbing trees and underwater harpooning with Papa, del Valle initially balked, but then gave it a whirl.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Do not fumble this opportunity to select a governor that is a true progressive candidate.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In turn, the Heat fumbled it away.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Britain had split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before that colony gained independence, something that has been a source of diplomatic friction as well as multiple legal battles with locals who were evicted.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Arsenal is challenging for the titl while Tottenham — under new coach Igor Tudor — is in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the market turned against GVA, Kastleman alleges, Stalcup scrambled to recoup his own investments at the expense of his investors.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Although Congress has been scrambling in recent weeks to negotiate a deal that would restore the subsidies, prospects look grim.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Sussexes coordinated in matching casual navy looks.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Defense chiefs from two major US allies have issued a rare public plea for people across Europe to support big boosts in defense spending to deter a possible war with an increasingly westward-looking Russia.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
How much were you involved in choreographing the fight scenes?—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
My record is one of an effective lawmaker who never backs down from a fight.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
At another point, a ranger waded through the mud of a mangrove forest and clambered into a mangrove to catch a bird for a blood sample, before doing the same trek in reverse to put it back.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrabble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrabble. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
