1
as in climbing
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling
the toddler scrambled up the stairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
scrambled the letters of the word
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrambling
The helicopters successfully evaded Pakistan's layered air defenses, there was a crash immediately at UBL's compound, guys were scrambling to get inside, Khalid bin Laden got melted in the stairwell and then the SEALs got bin Laden on the third deck.
—
David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
If the federal government enacts the Basic Coordination plan, the bureau will keep scrambling to make emergency decisions to ensure Powell and Mead are operable.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
But before the general election, Stewart and two other candidates are scrambling for delegates who will vote on May 16 during the Republican Party’s convention at the Mohegan Sun casino.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Beyond scrambling to get to Minnesota for his debut earlier this week, Anderson said his family had an interesting experience hustling to the Twin Cities.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Instead of canceling the season or scrambling for alternatives in playing the high-contact sport, Silver brainstormed the Bubble, and it has largely been seen as a success, even when other leagues failed to replicate it.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Even early on, before the gruesomeness starts spiraling out of control, Stephen McKeon’s stabbing, head-scrambling score and Peter Albrechtsen’s gut-churning soundscape work overtime to jangle our nerves.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
At the time, Afghans were scrambling to be evacuated as the Taliban regime returned to power.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
The Athletic reported Wednesday that high-level LIV executives are scrambling to map out the league’s next steps while beginning their own job searches.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
If the federal government enacts the Basic Coordination plan, the bureau will keep scrambling to make emergency decisions to ensure Powell and Mead are operable.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
But before the general election, Stewart and two other candidates are scrambling for delegates who will vote on May 16 during the Republican Party’s convention at the Mohegan Sun casino.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Beyond scrambling to get to Minnesota for his debut earlier this week, Anderson said his family had an interesting experience hustling to the Twin Cities.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Instead of canceling the season or scrambling for alternatives in playing the high-contact sport, Silver brainstormed the Bubble, and it has largely been seen as a success, even when other leagues failed to replicate it.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Even early on, before the gruesomeness starts spiraling out of control, Stephen McKeon’s stabbing, head-scrambling score and Peter Albrechtsen’s gut-churning soundscape work overtime to jangle our nerves.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
At the time, Afghans were scrambling to be evacuated as the Taliban regime returned to power.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
The Athletic reported Wednesday that high-level LIV executives are scrambling to map out the league’s next steps while beginning their own job searches.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrambling
Verb
-
As optimism over an extended ceasefire grew, oil prices fell early Friday after climbing a day earlier.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Air New Zealand will soon offer a solution that involves climbing into a triple-tier bunk bed wearing special socks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The hospitality union represents roughly 2,000 workers at the arena, potentially disrupting one of the biggest sporting events in the world.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
In such a case, if the people passing the message did not have complete control of their devices, an outsider could potentially subtly change the particles’ entanglement, disrupting the communication without leaving a trace.—
Matt von Hippel,
Quanta Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In November, a wildlife photographer out on a whale watching trip in waters off the city captured dramatic video and photos of a pod of killer whales hunting a seal that survived only by clambering onto the stern of her boat.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The piece is a collection of disused shoemaker boxes, once used by cobblers to keep tools, pressed against each other and stacked up, clambering toward the ceiling.—
Edna Bonhomme,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Of course, no rotation shuffling is imminent with Rodón expected to make at least three rehab starts and Cole moving at a slower pace following Tommy John surgery.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The famed Rendezvous Ballroom dance floor was so packed, couples would have to do their moves in a close embrace, posture upright while doing short half steps, swiftly shuffling their feet as the partners stepped out and in, over and over, in a rhythmic swing.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then jurors heard disturbing sounds of banging — and choking, according to the Star-Telegram.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
And inside the actual pillow, there are only those air sacs, which inflate and deflate to slightly change pressure points throughout the night – silently and without disturbing your slumber, or anyone else's.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrambling. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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