scratches 1 of 2

plural of scratch
as in scrapes
a harsh grating sound the scratch of metal on metal is not a good sound for a car to make

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

scratches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scratch
1
as in bruises
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface scratched his arm on a branch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in rubs
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the branches of the willow tree scratch against the windowpane whenever the wind blows

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in scribbles
to write or draw hastily or carelessly scratched a quick doodle in the margins

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 scratches
Noun
Because the child had no visible bite marks or scratches and appeared to be unharmed, his family did not seek medical care. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The byproduct was irritated, itchy skin with the discomfort of scratches, scabs and the stink that accompanied it. Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 The child had no visible bite marks or scratches, and his parents were not under the impression the bat had caused any injury, according to the report. Sophie Ziedalski, NBC news, 2 July 2026 Furniture bears scratches, repairs, and stains that remind us that somebody was here before. Emmanuel Olunkwa, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026 But starting on March 7, Kurashev only played in four of the Sharks’ final 22 games, including 13 straight healthy scratches from March 24 to April 15 while the team was trying to stay in the mix for a playoff spot. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 Reuse coffee grounds for composting, cleaning, or touching up scratches by leveraging their abrasive properties. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2026 Small scratches or marks aren't usually a problem, but cracks and deep chips can get worse. Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 26 June 2026 The neoprene construction is soft to the touch, but cushioned enough to protect glasses from scratches and bumps. Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Verb
Food particles and microorganisms can become trapped in the nicks, grooves, and scratches on the board. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 28 June 2026 Price's dog Chaos suffered extensive blood loss and several gashes and scratches from the bear attack. Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026 Officers noted in the affidavit that the girlfriend’s injuries didn’t quite match her claims, observing a small mark on her neck, scratches on her arm and a small cut on her hand. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 June 2026 But that just scratches the surface. R. Scott Raynovich, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 Because glass scratches easily, pressure matters here. Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 May 2026 Mobley departed with deep, visible scratches down the left side of his face, souvenirs from another street fight. Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 May 2026 Last, but certainly not least from the Article Memorial Day sale, the brand’s Torme desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026 Find an activity that meets your current needs With so many facets to the creative life, there is bound to be an endeavor that scratches an itch. Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratches
Noun
  • Tony says no bystanders were hurt and his deputies have only minor cuts and scrapes.
    S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • The boy bore no signs of scrapes or skin punctures, so the family initially didn’t take him for medical care.
    Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The nurse rubs circles on her lower back, clucking at the struggle of turning the pregnant body to the side like a lopsided gourd.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
  • Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.
    H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • But when Ava makes a bathroom trip, Deb hastily scribbles something in her notepad.
    Judy Berman, Time, 29 May 2026
  • More tournaments to come While Yount has developed a near-superpower of watching 12 mats at once, Smith, for the most part, relaxes in his seat and enjoys the show at Ball Arena while Yount scribbles on his brackets.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Mr Cobra opens like a dark, cobwebbed staircase leading into a vast and foreboding space, all frantic flute and piano, creaks, and bone-chilling screeches (not to mention a slutty monologue seemingly communicated via Google Translate).
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Woo walked slowly across the room, using a walker to stabilize his upper body, his steps a symphony of clunks and creaks and whirs.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Hope scrawls a single word on the paper and folds it up.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scratches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratches. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on scratches

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster