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Recent Examples of scratches
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Don’t use the tablets on delicate surfaces like porcelain and ceramic because their strong chemicals can cause damage like scratches and dulling.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Even the faintest scratches and indentations become legible.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Midnight Mammoth last in a field of five that was watered down by the scratches of Pegasus World Cup winner Skippylongstocking and Grade 2 winner Westwood.
—Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Newcomers Robby Fabbri and Jeff Petry were healthy scratches.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet after three straight seasons with identical point totals, 41 apiece, Strome had played in just over half the team’s games this year between injuries, illness and healthy scratches peppered into that mix of maladies.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
Apple upgraded the display glass to Ceramic Shield 2, providing the phone with better protection against scratches and breakage.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
At worst, those micro scratches are seen every time light hits the surface.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 5 Mar. 2026
David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Keep clean door mats inside and outside entrance areas to trap gritty dirt that scratches floors.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Records of this meeting clearly indicate that each of these was in dire need of snuggling, as well as Cabinet-level scratches underneath its ears.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Light scratches in just the poly can be remedied with a 'restoring' product like Rejuvenate.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Article’s Torme desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
At 79, nothing scratches his adrenaline itch like hopping on board a boat with three skates and no brakes.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Upon inspection one evening, the father discovered scratches all over the bottom of the pair.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
And even though All the Little Houses is set in the ’80s, complete with Laura Ashley dresses and Jazzercise references, the novel scratches a thoroughly modern itch for real access to the inner lives of the kinds of alpha women who swarm our social media feeds.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
The soft, durable material protects the table underneath from hot plates, spilled drinks and scratches, while the pattern is fun and charming.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Don’t use the tablets on delicate surfaces like porcelain and ceramic because their strong chemicals can cause damage like scratches and dulling.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Even the faintest scratches and indentations become legible.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Midnight Mammoth last in a field of five that was watered down by the scratches of Pegasus World Cup winner Skippylongstocking and Grade 2 winner Westwood.
—Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Newcomers Robby Fabbri and Jeff Petry were healthy scratches.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet after three straight seasons with identical point totals, 41 apiece, Strome had played in just over half the team’s games this year between injuries, illness and healthy scratches peppered into that mix of maladies.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
Apple upgraded the display glass to Ceramic Shield 2, providing the phone with better protection against scratches and breakage.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
At worst, those micro scratches are seen every time light hits the surface.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
That only scratches the surface of Dolphins possibilities in free agency.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Keep clean door mats inside and outside entrance areas to trap gritty dirt that scratches floors.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Records of this meeting clearly indicate that each of these was in dire need of snuggling, as well as Cabinet-level scratches underneath its ears.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Light scratches in just the poly can be remedied with a 'restoring' product like Rejuvenate.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Article’s Torme desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
At 79, nothing scratches his adrenaline itch like hopping on board a boat with three skates and no brakes.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Upon inspection one evening, the father discovered scratches all over the bottom of the pair.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
And even though All the Little Houses is set in the ’80s, complete with Laura Ashley dresses and Jazzercise references, the novel scratches a thoroughly modern itch for real access to the inner lives of the kinds of alpha women who swarm our social media feeds.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratches
Noun
-
Recovery and What Comes Next At SeaWorld’s facility, the care team focused on hydrating and warming the manatee while treating cuts and scrapes on the belly and underside, as well as treating an infection.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
There, the team focused on hydrating and warming him while treating cuts and scrapes on his belly and underside, along with an infection.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What rubs us the wrong way is the suggestion that this proposal is purely about sustainability.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
This might happen because antler rubs strip bark away, revealing lignin-rich inner wood that reemits the longer wavelengths in a way bark does not.—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
-
The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 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 16 Mar. 2026.
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