1
as in metallic
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1
as in scraping
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface
scratched his arm on a branch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in scribbling
to write or draw hastily or carelessly
scratched a quick doodle in the margins
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scratching
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
The two interconnected frame pieces then slid into each other, with handy round rubber stickers on the legs to keep the steel from scratching the floor.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
The surfactants and gentle abrasiveness in dryer sheets help dissolve soap scum and hard water buildup without scratching glass.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
Experts are scratching their heads this morning, frankly.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 May 2026
James Harden had seven of them in another lousy performance from an aging superstar who for years has been scratching at his own label as a poor playoff performer.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Use a microfiber cloth and work in a circular motion to avoid scratching the screen.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
The guy who went overseas to play, and then coach basketball, couldn’t even nab a Division III coaching gig before scratching and clawing his way into the NBA.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
Pope, who has been making programs for decades but only made his first for a streamer last year, has been scratching his head of late about the entrance of the American streaming giants into his factual drama heartland.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Verb
More than two months into the Iran war, many analysts are still scratching their heads that wartime leaders in Washington did not plan for an Iranian shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
The two interconnected frame pieces then slid into each other, with handy round rubber stickers on the legs to keep the steel from scratching the floor.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
The surfactants and gentle abrasiveness in dryer sheets help dissolve soap scum and hard water buildup without scratching glass.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
Experts are scratching their heads this morning, frankly.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 May 2026
James Harden had seven of them in another lousy performance from an aging superstar who for years has been scratching at his own label as a poor playoff performer.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Use a microfiber cloth and work in a circular motion to avoid scratching the screen.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
The guy who went overseas to play, and then coach basketball, couldn’t even nab a Division III coaching gig before scratching and clawing his way into the NBA.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
Pope, who has been making programs for decades but only made his first for a streamer last year, has been scratching his head of late about the entrance of the American streaming giants into his factual drama heartland.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching
Adjective
-
Plants add stunning texture and shining color to the garden with metallic, lavender-blue bracts surrounding flowers that stand erect on purple stems.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
-
Mishra placed metallic embroidery in irregular vine-like sections down the skirt, heavier at the front panels and hem, with small crystal dots scattered through the tulle.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Similarly, slugs and snails are less likely to travel across jagged surfaces, which can make pine cones a helpful barrier around vulnerable plants like lettuce or hostas.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
-
The blade was at least ten inches long and double-edged, honed on one side with a wavy scalloped finish, the other a jagged toothing like a lumberjack’s saw.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Stir or whisk in the dry ingredients, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure no dry streaks of flour remain.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
8 May 2026
-
The process of scraping food, touching the sink and other surfaces will leave your hands needing a proper wash as well.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Harvest quinoa by hitting the flower stalks against a hard surface or rubbing them between your hands to separate the seeds from the flower parts or chaff.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
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An employee washed hands for less than 10 seconds at the sushi bar, and the inspector wants to see 10-15 seconds of your hands rubbing each other.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This group – which included women with graying hair and comfortable OnCloud running shoes, a doctoral student scribbling in a tiny notebook and men wearing office casual chinos – were talking death over tea and vegan strawberry cookies in a gathering commonly called a Death Cafe.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
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As anachronisms constantly threaten to puncture the illusion, the cast stays wry, nimble and self-conscious in order to locate plot points and jokes that reinforce the golden-age radio setting, scribbling notes and introducing characters that propel them through ludicrous narrative arcs.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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The chaos is still an acceptable price to pay for Birney’s expertly offputting performance, a shrill mania that gets increasingly comic over time.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The act of scrawling them upon the page is tangible and pleasing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Chalamet invites his Instagram followers to meet him at Regal Times Square to watch the first 30 minutes of Marty Supreme by scrawling the message on his Instagram Story in orange.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Even the less flashy additions, like inulin (a prebiotic that supports the skin microbiome), keep skin soft, not squeaky.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratching. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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