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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
Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Andersen didn’t dress in Game 4 and was listed as a healthy scratch; Brind’Amour said after the game that Andersen, who’d played every minute of the postseason until Game 3, needed a rest.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Doug Kezirian, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.
—Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Noun
The good news is that employers don’t have to start from scratch.
—Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Andersen didn’t dress in Game 4 and was listed as a healthy scratch; Brind’Amour said after the game that Andersen, who’d played every minute of the postseason until Game 3, needed a rest.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Verb
As is often the case, notable wagers arrived that make sane bettors scratch their heads.
—Doug Kezirian, New York Times, 12 June 2026
Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.
—Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
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Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Delivery trucks, garbage workers, taxi drivers and honking motorists squeeze by parked cars on narrow side streets, sometimes ripping off side view mirrors or leaving scrapes on bumpers.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Trump has frequently complained that Obama’s deal included the transport of cash from the US to Iran.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Brianna was held on a $25,000 cash bond and Kierianna was held on a $100,000 cash bond.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
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To rub salt into the wounds of longtime fans, MLB agreed to waive its $300 million relocation fee.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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To season uncoated grates, rub them with a thin layer of oil and wipe away any excess.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The piece — which Ono has staged more than 250 times in 35-plus countries — draws on a Japanese tradition at Buddhist temples that invites visitors to scribble their hopes and dreams onto paper tags and tie them to the branches of a tree.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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But when Ava makes a bathroom trip, Deb hastily scribbles something in her notepad.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Iwerks worked with Bonnie Wild, a sound mixer whose credits include multiple Marvel and Star Wars projects, to piece together all of the sound from scratch — every creak of metal, every footstep and hammer, and every tractor driving across concrete.—
Matthew Jacobs,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
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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
Noun
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The general sales tax increase puts money into the county’s general fund for five years and sunsets in October 2031.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
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That money will be used to add an additional $250 to the accounts of the first 25 million children who are 10 years old and under who live in zip codes where the median income is less than $150,000.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Lee writes for the Associated Press.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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The play, Lessing writes, ought to be a tremendous success and run forever.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The coin depicts Trump on its front, with its packaging also featuring photos of him and White.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
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Segregated storage keeps your exact coins and bars separate from other investors’ holdings.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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