scrabbled

verb

past tense of scrabble
1
as in climbed
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

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2
as in fumbled
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 scrabbled With the June 2 primary weeks away and many voters still undecided, candidates scrabbled for airtime and breakout moments during the chaotic 90-minute debate. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 The Eagles have scrabbled at multiple offensive schemes while leveraging the strength of their defense. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrabbled
  1. climbed
  2. fumbled
  3. scrambled
  4. looked
  5. clambered
Verb
  • Peter Dominguez, the president of California Surfaces, a countertop fabrication and installation company in Santa Fe Springs, in Los Angeles County, has watched in recent years as silicosis cases climbed and lawsuits mounted.
    — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Franklin Park Defenders pushed back last Friday at the city’s latest cost estimate that has climbed since it was first floated.
    — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of climbed
Verb
  • Replay review confirmed that Bachmeier had indeed fumbled, and separately confirmed that Moa had scored.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Earlier, Jones fumbled after backup tailback Evan Pryor failed to pick up Georgia linebacker Quintavius Johnson, who knocked the ball out of Jones’ hand.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fumbled
Verb
  • And an incomplete pass was best-case scenario after Patrick Mahomes scrambled just to collect the ball and alertly fire it out of bounds.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Ukrainian officials scrambled to make sense of the warnings, quickly flagging that the system had probably been compromised.
    — Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of scrambled
Verb
  • Wong looked calm during sentencing Ahead of the hearing, Wong, who appeared at the High Court in a dark shirt, nodded to his supporters and pro-democracy activists in the public gallery.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In an interview three weeks before Tuesday’s election, the incumbent Ada County Commissioner told the Idaho Statesman that things looked uncertain for county Republicans.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of looked
Verb
  • Readers will know, of course, that Joao Palhinha bundled in a late winner at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Spurs reduced the gap to two and then clambered over West Ham in the final weeks of the season.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • People have clambered into helicopters from roof terraces and been winched up from the mud left behind by the floodwater, videos posted by the Nepali Army show.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of clambered

Browse Nearby Words

scrabble
scrabbled
scrabbles
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Cite this Entry

“Scrabbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrabbled. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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