scratch 1 of 3

scratch

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to scrape
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 to rub
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 to scribble
to write or draw hastily or carelessly scratched a quick doodle in the margins

Synonyms & Similar Words

scratch (out)

3 of 3

verb (2)

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 scratch
Noun
Kakko’s departure didn’t mean the end of controversial scratches. Peter Baugh, New York Times, 19 June 2025 This essentially enables developers to access and modify the model’s core knowledge and bypass the high costs and time associated with training a system from scratch. Ryan Browne, CNBC, 10 June 2025
Verb
Vertical Velocity While coaster nuts had to say goodbye to the world's fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, when it was demolished at Six Flags Great Adventures in Jackson Township, N.J. earlier this year, one of the park's newest coasters is here to scratch a similar itch. Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 19 June 2025 That approach extends to how The Waterfront positions the town’s minority residents to scratch the façade of this mostly white, upper-class community. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
  • There will be a few fewer bumps and bruises, fewer scrapes with injury, players’ health and energy preserved for the duration of the league’s longer, compact schedule.
    Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 18 June 2025
  • Pink scrape marks blossomed above and below his right eye.
    Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • Members also get Walmart cash rebates on travel services.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • To model what this distribution — which will begin when the first baby bonds recipients turn 18 in 2041 — will look like, the cash catalyst program will also focus on giving money to people between the ages of 18 and 30.
    P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The dim shake of her flashlight on the wall, the creak of the floor.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2025
  • Like any old building, Larkin Lodge has creaks and drafts, but Emily thinks there’s more going on.
    Gabino Iglesias, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • If companies needed money from the markets, the markets had their sources of capital appropriately drawn from those with ample surplus funds, including banks and bond issuers with the populace’s money.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In October, the project got a boost when the Department of Transportation under President Joe Biden approved Miami-Dade for $389 million toward the Northeast Corridor, money requiring congressional approval that’s still pending.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The interactive cash register uses a toy credit card, coins, a scanner, and a number pad to teach everything from shopping phrases to food, numbers, and songs.
    Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 27 June 2025
  • Before 1985, the team picking first overall had been determined through a coin flip between the worst teams in each conference.
    Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • For short-form content, several episodes are usually available for free, while further episodes require a subscription or for audiences to use in-platform or in-app currency to unlock new episodes.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 26 June 2025
  • Last week, the Senate approved the stablecoin bill, establishing a framework to regulate these digital currencies that are linked to the U.S. dollar.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The oven also includes dough and proofing modes for baking enthusiasts to maintain low temperatures to proof yeast doughs for an even and faster rise compared to letting dough rise on a room temperature countertop.
    Alice Knisley Matthias, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
  • George Russell took care of making the dough, using his business smarts to run circles around the old money elite, while Bertha brought high society to heel, deploying their riches to bulldoze past all the blue bloods.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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