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 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 This left the ruling Labour Party scrabbling. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrabbling

Verb

That single habit, repeated across thousands of deals, is the real reason influencer rates keep climbing.

— Chris Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Perhaps more surprising is that the vast majority—70%—were employed, a share that has held steady, meaning co-residency is climbing owing to growth in adults with steady jobs rather than those looking for work.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 July 2026

Definition of climbing

Verb

Witnesses’ fumbling looks bad by comparison, and Ossoff sounds righteously angry without being rageful.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
On Sunday, the Guardians essentially created a compilation video for Little League coaches to show their kids, a crash course in fumbling the fundamentals.

— Zack Meisel, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of fumbling

Verb

Emergency crews are still scrambling to contain ferocious blazes in Spain and France, where authorities have warned wildfires could burn for several months before they are fully extinguished.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
It was positioned as a continuation of a story Keeley Jones started pitching back in the Season 3 finale, giving the pivot narrative legitimacy rather than the whiff of a franchise scrambling for a new angle.

— Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of scrambling

Verb

Cyrus’ flawless-looking skin was in part thanks to the Maybelline New York Lifter Plump and Glow Foundation, a sheer base that can be built up for more coverage.

— Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Other air styler round brushes leave my fine hair looking more wind-swept than blown-out, with a ton of fly-aways.

— Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026

Definition of looking

Verb

That might include debris left behind or other damages like cars dented from scores of teens clambering over them while fleeing police.

— Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 25 July 2026
Video on state broadcaster CCTV showed the students, wearing bright orange life vests, clambering onto boats that took them away from the surreal scene of school buildings rising out of a lake of muddy water.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of clambering

Verb

Despite some growing pains, Okot’s minutes have continued to increase, reaching a career-high 22 minutes in the July 11 game against Portland.

— Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 28 July 2026
The Rugby World Cup was 18 months away, and the pressure of turning one of the sport’s sleeping giants into a side capable of reaching the quarter-finals was starting to pinch.

— Daniel Gallan, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of reaching

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 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scrabbling

verb

Example Sentences

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