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

Another shows someone climbing into a helicopter, stepping from a roof terrace, onto the landing gear and then into the cockpit, after appearing to take off their t-shirt to wave and attract the aircraft’s attention.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Summer has been scorching across California, with temperatures climbing as high as 110 degrees in some parts of the state.

— Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of climbing

Verb

The Packers’ offense left the field, but came back after it was ruled that Watson was down before fumbling.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Here was his senior running back, who scored a 44-yard touchdown in their state championship win months earlier, fumbling on the very first play of the Blue-White scrimmage.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fumbling

Verb

Prediction market companies are scrambling to improve their public reputation.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Populist opposition to massive data centers fueling the artificial intelligence boom is scrambling up the 2026 midterms, cutting across ideological lines.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrambling

Verb

Procapil brings biotinoyl tripeptide-1 together with botanical ingredients that help fortify follicles and anchor hair at the root, while Capixyl combines acetyl tetrapeptide-3 with red clover extract for stronger, denser-looking hair.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Just when things are looking dire for John and Sarah, the T-800 reboots on auxiliary power and shoots the T-1000 with a grenade launcher.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of looking

Verb

The field was narrowed to eight contestants who competed before the president on Tuesday night, clambering through a Ninja Warrior–style obstacle course while wearing red, white, and blue.

— Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of clambering

Verb

Built in 1884 to serve the area’s booming silver mines, the narrow-gauge railroad climbs nearly 600 feet in just two miles, crossing the famous Devil’s Gate High Bridge before reaching the historic mining town of Silver Plume.

— Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026
Sunday was the hottest day of the year since 2023, with temperatures reaching 109 degrees at DFW Airport.

— Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 24 Aug. 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 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scrabbling

verb

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