scratched

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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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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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 If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or an animal suspected to have rabies, seek medial care immediately and let your provider know about the possible exposure. Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 July 2026 That means obvious things, like medication, feeding, and potty breaks, but also details like favorite toys, spots to be scratched, and other small rituals your pet looks forward to every day. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 The Rangers are now without pitcher Jacob deGrom, who was supposed to pitch Sunday but was scratched with a glute strain and might be placed on the injury list. Cal Phillips updated July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026 Richard, Cryer and Leons, like Lendeborg, participated in only the first two California Classic games before being scratched for the Monday finale that was played in front of only scouts and media. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 Bubic made two rehab starts in Triple-A Omaha, didn’t feel right after the second one (on June 27) and was scratched from his next start. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026 The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department advised anyone bitten or scratched by a bat or other wild animal to promptly clean the wound with soap and water, then contact a physician or go to the emergency room. Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Normal mice scratched and inflammatory immune cells rushed to the site, increasing swelling. ABC News, 27 June 2026 That eventually led to him getting healthy scratched a few times, even in the playoffs. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratched
Verb
  • If the white finish has been scraped away or the leather has visible scratches, cleaning alone won’t completely restore the area.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • Among the billions of images in the dataset on which Stable Diffusion was trained were millions of photographs and other visual works scraped from the stock photography website Getty Images.
    Zoey Forbes, The Dial, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • Comté cheese, coarsely grated, to béchamel and stir until melted and combined.
    Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Rollins grated Breakker’s face against the steel cage as Bron collapsed.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • One $10,000 loan, memorialized in a note scribbled in Vietnamese, called for $100 a day in interest.
    Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Her Eras Tour, the really beautiful white gown with her lyrics that were scribbled across the dress that was custom Vivienne.
    Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The cat had blood pouring from its mouth and was surrounded by arcane symbols scrawled on the walls, court documents show.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026
  • Pinned to their random assortment of hats were scrawled, handmade signs proclaiming liberty or death.
    Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scratched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratched. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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