scratch 1 of 2

Definition of scratchnext

scratch

2 of 2

verb

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
Competition is wide open in Fire camp with team starting from scratch as a new expansion franchise this season, and Williams is also in a strong position because Portland gave up a pick to acquire her in a trade with the Connecticut Sun on draft night. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026 But that may be fine for homeowners who simply want solid coverage without having to build a plan from scratch. Sharon Wu, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Verb
Health officials recommend that pet owners ensure their animals are up to date on vaccinations and seek veterinary assistance immediately if they're bitten or scratched by a wild animal. Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 After being scratched from the lineup because of tightness in his left quad, Harris delivered as a pinch-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
  • Police said the victim sustained visible injuries to his hand and reported additional pain and possible scrapes to his shin.
    Stepheny Price , Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026
  • This day's aches and scrapes might last a little longer.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Sun Pharma plans to fund the acquisition through a mix of internal cash and financing from banks.
    Baiju Kalesh, Bloomberg, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The irregular flow of cash will distort their financial reports and could deepen mistrust that the county has adequate guardrails to properly account for where taxpayers’ money is ending up.
    A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The 4-year-old eventually could be seen getting up and walking away, while Berrios-Otero continues to allegedly rub the unidentified child, the warrant affidavits said.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
  • Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Melville, reading Emerson’s two essay collections in the 1860s, scribbled a mix of agreement and strong disagreement in their margins.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Oz prepared to turn over a piece of paper with a name scribbled on it with a Sharpie.
    Weijia Jiang, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Mr Cobra opens like a dark, cobwebbed staircase leading into a vast and foreboding space, all frantic flute and piano, creaks, and bone-chilling screeches (not to mention a slutty monologue seemingly communicated via Google Translate).
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Your baby was waking at every creak of the floorboard, every passing car, every branch scraping the window.
    Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Trump has vowed to spend his own money to pay for the ballroom, but the project has drawn criticism for its massive size.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Opponents of Johnson’s added into the budget an expectation that the city would earn $6 million from the technology, though Johnson’s administration argued the city could not responsibly count on the money.
    Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The dramedy, which doesn’t have an English-language title yet, is written and directed by Szifron, whose 2014 film Wild Tales was Argentina’s contender and nominee for what was then known as the Oscar’s best foreign-language film section.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Jim Varsallone writes a high school sports column twice a week, featuring top performers in all varsity sports (boys and girls) in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
    Miami Herald Staff Reports, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In these kinds of experiments, participants are told to practice physical activities—finger tapping, coin tossing, dart throwing with a nondominant hand—within their dreams.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • The coins were initially discovered by two metal detectorists in a field near the Norwegian city of Rena in the region of Østerdalen, according to the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage.
    Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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