Thesaurus results for SCRABBLING

scrabbling

verb

present participle of scrabble

as in climbing

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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as in fumbling

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 scrabbling Tarek Ghanem, a 41-year-old construction contractor who is homeless himself, ran from his tent 100 yards away to begin scrabbling through the debris. — Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026 The retaliation works, and soon Cole and his men are marching on foot, scrabbling their way through thickets and swamps. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 In addition, its luxury pricing will turn off many hobbyists and content creators who are scrabbling to make ends meet. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 Imagine combat choreographed by ants, swarms of elbows and legs scrabbling to emerge victorious. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 The actress and producer has had great success in recent years, turning her talents to working behind the scenes of comedies about young people scrabbling their way through life. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 June 2026 In the new South, one scrabbling to industrialize, business owners could now hire unpaid labor through the penal system. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026 That left the administration scrabbling for other ways to reimpose duties that were struck down. — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026 Next went Marshall Allen, hands on his sax like feral scrabbling mice. — Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrabbling

Verb

But the possibility that these new tracks were augmented by AI saps the novelty, in the same way that an AI video of a raccoon climbing a string of Christmas lights isn’t cute in the slightest.

— Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
To gin up attention, the group’s PR person staged a stunt that involved the band climbing the statute of Eros in the middle of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain in London’s Piccadilly Circus.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of climbing

Verb

After fumbling the opening kickoff to set up a Panthers field goal and going three-and-out on their first series, the Packers (5-3) scored touchdowns on three of their next four possessions to take command.

— Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
After fumbling twice in Michigan State territory, halting offensive momentum, the Bruins were trailing going into the second quarter and tied 7-7 with three minutes left in the second quarter.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of fumbling

Verb

Wait for the rows in front of you to get up and head to the exit, rather than scrambling to snatch your items from the overhead bins and just crowding the aisle.

— Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
So states have been scrambling since the notifications began going out Tuesday to figure out where the DOJ plans to be.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of scrambling

Verb

At a Thursday post-election conference organized by the Center for American Progress, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that the people who’d beaten invincible-looking Republicans needed space to vote and govern their way.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Rival studios are looking closely at whether audiences still see Depp as a big screen draw.

— J. Kim Murphy, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of looking

Verb

Commercial satellite operators are already clambering to claim space on Falcon 9s as the final sales are made.

— Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Sometimes only the tips of the reeds and the seed heads were visible, poking above the murky water, and other times the reeds stood fully exposed, with a clear view of crabs clambering around their bases.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of clambering

Browse Nearby Words

scrabbles

scrabbling

scrag

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“Scrabbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrabbling. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of scrabbling

verb

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