SCRATCHES Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

scratches 1 of 2

noun

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

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

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

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

Regularly inspect your spatulas for any sign of wear, including loose components, cracks, scratches or dents. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 Given that matte white finishes are sometimes made out of enamel, scratches and chips are a possibility, Bennett shares. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026 In the arrest affidavit, Ted Barnett told investigators that the scratches on his body were from an Ultimate Frisbee tournament that happened the previous weekend. — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 According to Matthews, dust can be abrasive, and wood can be very sensitive to scratches. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026 How to Remove Scratches on Stainless Steel Gentleness is key when buffing out light scratches on stainless steel appliances. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 15 Aug. 2026 Materials That Stand Up to Real Life Flooring has gotten tougher, with luxury vinyl, laminate, and other resilient options offering realistic finishes that are more resistant to water, scratches, and wear. — Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a viral disease transmitted through bites and scratches from an infected animal. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 Diisea Besides the inconvenience of lining up, one concern with traditional car washes is the potential for dirt and abrasive particles to cause micro-scratches on the paint or even damage sensors. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

But as his guitar scratches away at Stewart’s velvet synths and glances off Mitchell’s drums, sing Reilly does. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 Preparing for a college football Saturday with ACC Network scratches the same gameplanning itch for Fisher that used to take up his time during his more than three decades as a coach. — David Ubben, New York Times, 17 July 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratches

Noun

This follows previous scrapes of the dataset posted on Reddit (since taken down by the original poster) and the AI model clearinghouse Hugging Face.

— Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Cut marks and scrapes made by flint knives at consistent locations on the bones indicate local humans butchered many of them for meals.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrapes

Verb

Achord stands behind Smack each time and, before one kick, rubs his belly with his other hand over his head as some sort of signal.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
But during the following two years, Van Lith saw only gigantic tracks and adrenaline-inspiring antler rubs that had been left behind by the buck of his dreams.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubs

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

Definition of scribbles

Noun

Dillon put together another great week of work, falling forward, finding creaks of daylight in the gaps created by a less-than-ideal second-team offensive line.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
The durable metal is also rust-resistant, and reviews say that despite its metal frame, creaks and squeaks are minimal.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026