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scratched

verb

past tense of scratch
1
as in scraped
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 grated
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 scribbled
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 scratched The Dodgers scratched Ohtani from their upcoming probables list one day later. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The agency also warned the public to avoid contact with wildlife and sick mammals, and to seek medical care if someone is bitten or scratched. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026 Thomas was in the starting lineup to play left field and bat sixth for a game against the Rays but was scratched before first pitch. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 Sep. 2026 In June, a black bear followed and then attacked and scratched a hiker in Golden, Colorado. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026 If one is bitten or scratched by a mammal, officials urge residents to wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and to seek medical attention. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The Rams already were the odds-on Super Bowl favorite before bringing back Donald, so upon hearing that he was scratched, the 49ers surely won’t be doing any victory laps in the ensuing 52 hours before kickoff. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026 The upstairs neighbors had two mastiffs who were left home all day and who barked incessantly and scratched at the floor of their kennel. — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026 She is scratched and bruised and has had a total of 38 stitches, 22 of those in her right foot, which is swollen. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratched
  1. scraped
  2. grated
  3. scribbled
  4. scrawled
Verb
  • For months, layer after layer of paint and grime were scraped away from the original wood and brick to reveal traces of different eras in the building's history.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The letter calls for the museum to release the full list of artworks scraped for the Beeple piece.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of scraped
Verb
  • Parmesan, finely grated (about 3 cups), 1 cup (packed) parsley leaves with tender stems, and 1 tsp.
    — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan and gouda, however, are better suited for freezing and can be grated and stored for later use.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of grated
Verb
  • Looney Tunes reference scribbled in the geographic direction of Hollywood.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • However, over that time, the amounts typically scribbled or printed on the face of those checks rose.
    — Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
Definition of scribbled
Verb
  • Violet, named for the color of identifying crayon scrawled on her brow, is one of 250 to 500 patients the Marine Mammal Care Center rescues along the Los Angeles County coast every year.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, there’s an impromptu memorial, formed from hundreds of tributes to the rapper scrawled in sharpie on poles and on the concrete.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrawled

Browse Nearby Words

scratch
scratched
scratched (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Scratched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratched. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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