scratch 1 of 2

Definition of scratchnext
1
as in to scrape
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface scratched his arm on a branch

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to rub
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the branches of the willow tree scratch against the windowpane whenever the wind blows

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to scribble
to write or draw hastily or carelessly scratched a quick doodle in the margins

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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 scratch
Noun
Jacobs was also inactive for two games — Week 12 with a knee injury and Week 18 as a healthy scratch. Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 What was initially believed to be just a scratch started swelling over the next several hours, causing severe pain and an injury the size of a baseball. Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Verb
The planters themselves get chipped, scratched, dented and, in one out of every three cases so far, destroyed. Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026 All the weirdo arcane seemingly head-scratching things are just this the honest documentary of us as kids in the late ’90s in Tempe, Arizona, and the surrounding area. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
  • Necrotizing fasciitis can be contracted when bacteria that thrives in warm, brackish waters enters the body through open cuts, scrapes, burns or other puncture wounds, or by eating raw or undercooked shellfish.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • The agency also recommends those at higher risk for infection wear water shoes or clothes in coastal water to prevent cuts and scrapes.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • Police located a third gun and an undisclosed amount of cash inside of a bag in a closet, BPD said.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 July 2026
  • Conforti, an energy consultant making her third run for Congress, had less than $23,000 in campaign cash as of June 30.
    Russell Lissau, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Edward rubs his lamb with turmeric, Aleppo chile powder, salt and pepper.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • That certainly rubbed some players the wrong way, including McIlroy.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • With so much data to take in, penalty ‘cheat sheets’ have started to appear on goalkeeper’s bottles and scribbled on pieces of paper.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2026
  • One $10,000 loan, memorialized in a note scribbled in Vietnamese, called for $100 a day in interest.
    Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • The durable metal is also rust-resistant, and reviews say that despite its metal frame, creaks and squeaks are minimal.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
  • Prairie grasses and bonnet strings whip in the wind as the creak of wagon wheels carries across the rippling grassland.
    Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Villa’s desire to address this position has grown in prominence over the summer, with Jadon Sancho’s loan ending, Evann Guessand and Leon Bailey available to leave and Villa having the money to spend from Rogers’ sale.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Georgia voters should look twice before donating money to candidates this election season.
    Sophia Eppley, AJC.com, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • But as written previously, Jeffers is a potential free agent who could bring back bullpen help, and the Twins could replace him with Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • He is repped by WME and Liebman Entertainment Baker is writing and executive producing, with both Kidman and Fanning executive producing in addition to starring.
    Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • Cooper won a coin toss and received Bueckers, the leader in fan votes.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • Peak Design previously made a card-sized location tracking device (similar to an AirTag), and it's now shrunk that down to a coin-sized version that fits in the baseplate.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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