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as in cash
slang
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment
she treated her buddies to a drink whenever she had the scratch for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of scratch
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
Even in southern Greenland, where population centers exist, there are few roads and no railways, meaning mining companies would need to build basic infrastructure from scratch.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
Gratitude hardly scratches the surface.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Noun
The tributes—which are unrelated to the JAS Motorsports’ restomod project—won’t be built from scratch.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
Even in southern Greenland, where population centers exist, there are few roads and no railways, meaning mining companies would need to build basic infrastructure from scratch.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
The best vacuums for hardwood floors have a powerful cleaning performance without scratching or causing damage.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
Gratitude hardly scratches the surface.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
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These durable, waterproof luggage sleeves fit squarely over your suitcase in order to protect its shell from scuffs, bumps, and scrapes, all while allowing the color of your luggage to show through.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Jan. 2026
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With simple maintenance, your favorite spoon will continue to stir, scrape, and serve for years to come.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Martha Stewart,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Janet’s mother, Marilyn, was deeply insecure about having never finished college herself, and—newly flush with cash—offered to pay for four years of her children’s higher education (which cost, on average, $740 in the late 1970s).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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And just in case, she was laid to rest with some local currency, or spending cash, almost 1,000 Kaiyuan Tongbao coins tied to her waist and right leg, as per Arkeonews reported.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One of the brothers claims that Busfield rubbed his genitals and touched his buttocks during the production, per the warrant.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
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Its main job is to rub against the eyelid during a blink to generate a small amount of static electricity.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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John Boy locks himself in a bedroom to scribble his thoughts about trains and oceans and whippoorwills in a Big Chief tablet, telling no one in the family about his secret dream of being a writer, until his mother finds the notebooks and confronts him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Dec. 2025
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The drawings that filled Yorke and Donwood’s sketchbooks became some of the band’s most iconic insignia, tattooed on arms and scribbled on three-ring binders.—
Zoe Si,
New Yorker,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Hearing the house creak in the recordings was important, Auerbach said.—
Audrey Gibbs,
USA Today,
1 Jan. 2026
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Owners at the condo, where many units sold for upwards of $20 million, have complained of leaks, creaks, and elevators that break frequently, in one case trapping a resident for more than an hour.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Cashier Sandra Cornejo said the suspect ordered Oreo ice cream before pulling out a knife and demanding money.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Bonta said the money also supports child welfare and foster services, housing stability, job training, food assistance and services for seniors and people with disabilities.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the docuseries, Woroniecki's wife, Rachel, allegedly wrote a letter to Andrea during this time.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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One of the dogs had pressure sores on all of its limbs, indicating inactivity, the detective wrote.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In a simple demonstration, a coin cell powered a toy car for 288 cm under light, compared with 212 cm in the dark.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
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Stray tissues lipstick, crayon, coins, or car keys can ruin your laundry and even your machine.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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