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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
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Recent Examples of scratch
Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
That’s just the most recent scratch our collective heads moment involving Nicki.
—Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Harman Dayal, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
In his pre-trial ruling last July, the judge said such questions were irrelevant to ex-security guard Emani Ellis’ claims that Cardi had scratched her cheek with an acrylic fingernail during an altercation outside a Beverly Hills doctor’s office in 2018.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Noun
The mother made tamales and champurrado, a hot chocolate drink, from scratch on a frigid winter morning.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
That’s just the most recent scratch our collective heads moment involving Nicki.
—Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Now Nyquist has been banished to the press box, scratched for 12 of 15 games since the start of January.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
In his pre-trial ruling last July, the judge said such questions were irrelevant to ex-security guard Emani Ellis’ claims that Cardi had scratched her cheek with an acrylic fingernail during an altercation outside a Beverly Hills doctor’s office in 2018.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
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Fortunately, the children have a lot of bruises, scrapes and cuts, all stuff that is easily managed.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
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The modular roof bars rotate 90 degrees to become proper crossbars when needed, while the alloy wheels are subtly recessed to sit within the line of the tyre, helping avoid scrapes from inevitable encounters with kerbs or rocks.—
Fergus Scholes,
TheWeek,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
2 Feb. 2026
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The outside cash backing them likely represents the tip of the iceberg this year, observers said — especially in the first competitive Democratic governor’s race in over a decade where one candidate doesn’t promise to steamroll the competition’s spending with self-funding.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After Landfair climbed into Kelly’s lap and rubbed his head — following the precise instructions Sparkle had given her — Kelly eagerly accepted her innocent request.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
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But this one in particular rubbed him the wrong way.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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School officials gathered and answered the questions scribbled on index cards.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Feb. 2026
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In those brownstones, the icons scribbled about notepads and surrendered those eternal drafts to thin paper zines.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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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Nine of the top ten sets by brick count have been released in the last five years, and two of those are still to arrive, namely the LEGO Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise, and a yet-to-be announced Lord of the Rings build (my money’s on Minas Tirith).—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Instead, the money inmates pay to buy snacks and other items in the commissary covers the cost, something called the inmate welfare account.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Boys who haven’t been invited into those conversations about identity, values, mistakes, or purpose often struggle to write anything beyond the literal.—
Dr. Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Yet for all the star power his name attracts, Winslow will never write with a specific actor in mind.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Green Day Green Day will be a part of an on-field performance just before the coin toss as the NFL honors Super Bowl MVPs of the past ahead of the 60th game in its history.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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There are literally thousands of potential bets on the game and everything surrounding it — from the coin toss to who will score the first touchdown to who will appear onscreen during the ads.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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