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

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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
The only real solution is to nuke the whole thing and start over from scratch. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025 When the protective finish is gone, wood surfaces are more prone to scratches and damage and may age faster. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
For quarterbacks whose spring practices felt like jazz, that debut was a needle scratching the record. Pete Sampson, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025 But his proposal would only raise about $14 million each year, hardly enough to scratch the surface on the state’s school maintenance needs. Emily Schwing, ProPublica, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scratch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratch
Noun
  • Keep any injuries, cuts, or scrapes clean and disinfected.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 10 Aug. 2025
  • The Florida Department of Health warns against entering the water with fresh cuts or scrapes and advises immunocompromised individuals to wear protective footwear to avoid injuries from rocks and shells on the beach.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The alternative is the Tier 3 cash payment option, which will be a share of the settlement after administration costs and claims are received.
    Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Since the poll’s inception in 1998, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has increased 285% from $1.30 to $5.01 per tooth.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The hum of a refrigerator, the distant drone of a neighbor’s lawnmower, the tinny bleeping of a vintage Gameboy, the rhythmic creak of trampoline springs in action.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025
  • And a few creaks and rattles cropped up when the exhaust roar or music didn’t drown out all other sounds—though pushing hard in the hills seemed to settle some of the trim into place better.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Drummond pulled out a pistol, pointed it at a store employee and demanded the money in the cash register, according to court documents.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
  • When Sullivan launched his show, there was no money to pay guests, so Robinson agreed to appear for free.
    Pam Windsor, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In the same way that 16th century bankers and traders had an incentive to use coins (which all had the same face value) with some lower quality metal.
    Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Both coins took a hit Thursday, however, after July's wholesale inflation data came in much hotter than expected.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The world’s most valuable digital currency had climbed to roughly $124,380 around 8:30 p.m. EST, according to Coinbase data from TradingView.
    Charles Lloyd Bovaird II, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • After finding the currency and reporting it, the crew cleaned and deodorized the bills and returned all of the loot to the homeowner.
    Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart.
    Cheryl V. Jackson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Aug. 2025
  • There’s plenty to eat too, like artisan cheeses, macarons and butter cookies, as well as food truck classics like fried dough, Chicago-style hot dogs and sausages.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 27 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratch. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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