1
2
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
1
2
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
Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
Sleek, sturdy and stylish—this wooden‑base cat tree gives your cat a cozy place to climb, scratch and lounge without clashing with your home décor.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
That certainly wasn’t the case in 2025, when Austin FC scratched and clawed its way into the playoffs despite scoring fewer goals than any other team in the Western Conference.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Noun
The kitchen is scratch and high-quality.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
Sleek, sturdy and stylish—this wooden‑base cat tree gives your cat a cozy place to climb, scratch and lounge without clashing with your home décor.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
His face was scratched and his arm was bandaged.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
That certainly wasn’t the case in 2025, when Austin FC scratched and clawed its way into the playoffs despite scoring fewer goals than any other team in the Western Conference.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
-
Your first instinct may be to clean, scrape, disinfect, and paint over the problem, but this won't help for long.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Footage from the show at the time also shows a cut in her dress, as well as scrapes on her legs.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will keep ticking up.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Americans have been spending serious cash on their trucks and sport utility vehicles, with the average transaction price above $49,000 in January, according to Kelley Blue Book.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rinse apples under running water and gently rub them to remove dirt and microbes before eating.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Be careful not to rub or pull the area, warns Wallace.—
Tracy Perez Han,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With all meetings relegated to Zoom, D’Amaro would cover his name tag with masking tape and scribble his emotional state with a blue pen.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
More tournaments to come While Yount has developed a near-superpower of watching 12 mats at once, Smith, for the most part, relaxes in his seat and enjoys the show at Ball Arena while Yount scribbles on his brackets.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
It might also be criticized for saying nothing about whether any or all of that money should be rebated to the countries that paid the money and the companies that experienced price increases for their products as a result of higher tariffs.—
Cal Thomas,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The money has funded Guitars for Schools, which has provided instruments made by El Cajon based Taylor Guitars to 131 schools across San Diego County.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On the other hand, if demand does not keep up with coins that lack strict caps or are still being minted, their prices can stay the same or even drop.—
Will Jones,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
In an interview with The News last year, the TEXITcoin founder, who has a background in gold and silver coin manufacturing, also recounted a story he’s repeated often.—
Trevor Bach,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
