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 Other issues are scratched, damaged, or overly polished watches sold as mint, sellers who disappear after receiving payment, and shill bidding at online auctions. — Joe D'allegro, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 The fight was so violent that each one of them punched, scratched, bit and slapped the other, Linhardt said. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno won the NL batting title despite being scratched about an hour before first pitch with a sore hamstring. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 Sure, plastic kitchenware can be cost-effective up front, but repeatedly replacing staples that have warped, scratched, or held onto lingering odors adds up over time. — Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026 In one of these journals, called Notebook B, there is an incidental sketch, a few scratched lines like the barren twigs of a winter tree. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026 Officials said another woman fought back during an attack and scratched Davis, leaving DNA beneath her fingernails. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026 In August, street style star Zoë Kravitz stepped out in a kick-flare style that scratched an itch in my brain. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026 The important bits are the footnotes, the sketches and scratched-out drafts. — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratched
  1. scraped
  2. grated
  3. scribbled
  4. scrawled
Verb
  • Most of these super-Earths orbit frighteningly close to their host stars and have long since had their atmospheres scraped away, leaving them baked, parched rocks.
    — Space.com Staff, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Many of the musicians focused on the fact that, by definition, AI generates music based on existing music scraped from across the web.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of scraped
Verb
  • Parmesan, finely grated (about 2 cups), in a large bowl to combine; measure out 1 cup cheese and set aside for topping.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Some versions are sold as wedges, while others are finely grated and packaged for easy sprinkling over spaghetti or casseroles.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 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
  • Hate speech was also found scrawled on one of the weapons used in the attack, and a suicide note contained writings about racial pride, officials said.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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 7 Oct. 2026.

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