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Recent Examples of scratches
Irene Wright, USA Today, 7 May 2026
The scratches, mild but visible, are from the ravenous audience who pushes toward her night after night — grasping for a hug, a high-five, a brush of her fingers or the hem of her sleeve.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2026
The leather-alternative material is durable enough to handle regular wear and tear, withstand scuffs and scratches, and resist water in case you get caught in a surprise rain storm.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The disease, which can be transmitted through bites and scratches from infected animals, is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms occur.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Hagens took the scratches in stride.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
Uncle Mo and Forte were late scratches.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Skipping this step—and dragging loose, abrasive particles under a wet cloth—could lead to scratches on your floors.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 May 2026
Bites or scratches from an infected rodent or eating food contaminated with hantavirus, are other forms of exposure, Florida Health said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2026
The top 14 fillies on the leaderboard are guaranteed a spot in the starting gate, with three horses added as also-eligibles in case anyone in the main field scratches.
—Teresa Genaro, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
For a child who scratches through the night or wakes up with irritated patches, that difference in breathability is meaningful.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
But this satirical peek into Silicon Valley's tech bubble barely scratches the surface of the depravity and dysfunction to come.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
From a total solar eclipse lasting almost an hour to the Earth setting behind the moon, the photo dump from NASA just scratches the surface of what's to come.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
This roundup of attractions just scratches the surface of things to do in Daytona Beach.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
That only scratches the surface of Dolphins possibilities in free agency.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
In rare cases, it can be spread through rodent bites or scratches, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 7 May 2026
The scratches, mild but visible, are from the ravenous audience who pushes toward her night after night — grasping for a hug, a high-five, a brush of her fingers or the hem of her sleeve.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2026
The leather-alternative material is durable enough to handle regular wear and tear, withstand scuffs and scratches, and resist water in case you get caught in a surprise rain storm.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The disease, which can be transmitted through bites and scratches from infected animals, is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms occur.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Hagens took the scratches in stride.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
Uncle Mo and Forte were late scratches.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Skipping this step—and dragging loose, abrasive particles under a wet cloth—could lead to scratches on your floors.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Bites or scratches from an infected rodent or eating food contaminated with hantavirus, are other forms of exposure, Florida Health said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2026
The top 14 fillies on the leaderboard are guaranteed a spot in the starting gate, with three horses added as also-eligibles in case anyone in the main field scratches.
—Teresa Genaro, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
For a child who scratches through the night or wakes up with irritated patches, that difference in breathability is meaningful.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
But this satirical peek into Silicon Valley's tech bubble barely scratches the surface of the depravity and dysfunction to come.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
From a total solar eclipse lasting almost an hour to the Earth setting behind the moon, the photo dump from NASA just scratches the surface of what's to come.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
This roundup of attractions just scratches the surface of things to do in Daytona Beach.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
That only scratches the surface of Dolphins possibilities in free agency.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratches
Noun
-
At a June 12 protest, a federal agent shoved freelance journalist Anna Sophia Moltke to the ground, causing sprains on her left arm and leg and deep scrapes to her hip and knee that have since scarred.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
Police said the victim sustained visible injuries to his hand and reported additional pain and possible scrapes to his shin.—
Stepheny Price , Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
-
Give him lots of treats and belly rubs!—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Scratches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratches. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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