scrape 1 of 3

1
as in encounter
a brief clash between enemies or rivals he's had his share of scrapes with the law in the past

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in bruise
an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface scrapes that were caused by a too-tight harness

Synonyms & Similar Words

scrape

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to scratch
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the rusty old gate scrapes against the pavement whenever anyone opens it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to graze
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface she scraped her knee when she fell down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to grit
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound she scraped her fingernails across the chalkboard to get everyone's attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

scrape (up or together)

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to earn
to get with great difficulty we're barely scraping together a living on the farm

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 scrape
Noun
One child who was treated and released that day was a 4-year-old girl who suffered bumps, bruises and scrapes, including a severe cut to the side of her head that required stitches, her father, JJ Glavan, told the Chicago Tribune. Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025 The sequence was replayed over a dozen times, as there was a question as to whether it was caused by a punch, a head clash, or a scrape from Suarez’s gloves. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
The city is collaborating with West Sacramento, the transportation authority and the area council of governments to scrape together the project’s remaining funds, which would be at least $25 million. Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2025 With a sharp knife, barely slice the tops of the kernels off into a bowl, then scrape the kernels' roots from the cob into the same bowl. Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrape
Noun
  • Hynde at the time, had a more pleasant encounter, however.
    Gary Graff, Billboard, 11 July 2025
  • The actor, who starred in 85 episodes of the mogul's BET series The Oval, reflected on his time working with Perry in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, detailing the alleged encounters that led him to file the $260 million lawsuit.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Without this infrastructure, every applications needs to rebuild the plumbing from scratch.
    David G.W. Birch, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
  • Area rugs are an excellent solution for protecting hard floors from scratches and scuffs while adding warmth and texture to your space.
    Ali Faccenda, People.com, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • Marte is already on the IL with a bone bruise in his right knee, the same one that required an injection in spring training.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • This is the despair of wrestlers: unredeemed perspiration, useless bruises.
    James Parker, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • Sprinkle more baking soda on the scouring pad or brush if desired.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 July 2025
  • Celebrity hairstylists Larry Sims and Erinn Courtney prefer traditional curling irons with clamps over wands or other blowout styling tools like blow dry brushes or straighteners.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The fabric performed very well in our abrasion test, and didn’t develop any pilling, thinning, or loose threads whatsoever.
    Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2025
  • The abrasion test showed no tears or holes, with only slight color fading.
    Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Chaos unfolded at Antioch High School at 11:09 a.m. Wednesday as a 17-year-old male student armed with a pistol opened fire in the cafeteria, fatally wounding a 16-year-old girl and leaving another male student with a graze wound.
    Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • The 25-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken to UC in good condition, while the 40-year-old victim suffered a graze wound to the head, according to police.
    William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Scrape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrape. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on scrape

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!