1
as in metallic
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Dissimilar Words
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
Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
Brushes designed specifically for camera lenses have ultrasoft bristles to gently lift dust and particles without scratching the glass.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The video, filmed at a hotel breakfast buffet, has racked up more than five million views on social media and left many scratching their heads.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Six-foot-7 center Clara Silva arrived from Kentucky and has given the Horned Frogs a gifted two-way center who is only scratching the surface of her potential.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
Warsofsky had the option of scratching Dickinson, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 draft, and dressing call-up Nolan Allan for the following night’s game against the New York Islanders.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The mediocre Queen biopic remains one of the most head-scratching best picture nominees in recent memory.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Use natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar to safely remove stains and grime without scratching the surface.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026
Counsell, Hottovy, team president Jed Hoyer and many others in the organization believe that Cabrera was just scratching the surface last season.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
And that's just scratching the surface!
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
Brushes designed specifically for camera lenses have ultrasoft bristles to gently lift dust and particles without scratching the glass.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The video, filmed at a hotel breakfast buffet, has racked up more than five million views on social media and left many scratching their heads.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Six-foot-7 center Clara Silva arrived from Kentucky and has given the Horned Frogs a gifted two-way center who is only scratching the surface of her potential.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
Warsofsky had the option of scratching Dickinson, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 draft, and dressing call-up Nolan Allan for the following night’s game against the New York Islanders.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The mediocre Queen biopic remains one of the most head-scratching best picture nominees in recent memory.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Use natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar to safely remove stains and grime without scratching the surface.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026
Counsell, Hottovy, team president Jed Hoyer and many others in the organization believe that Cabrera was just scratching the surface last season.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching
Adjective
-
The non-metallic grey-green is rare and polarizing.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Above this sits the indium-free chalcopyrite absorber, followed by a 150-nm cadmium sulfide buffer layer, a zinc oxide window layer, and a metallic grid electrode.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
From Buffalo Grove, the district goes northwest on a jagged path through Mundelein, Fox Lake, and into McHenry County.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Rescuers said the conditions were treacherous, with deep drifting snow, jagged ice and extremely limited visibility that slowed efforts to reach the man.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
First, test the shoots by scraping a few stems to see how much cold damaged occurred.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Process, scraping down sides as needed, until mixture is very smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And after rubbing it in and brushing it through, this product leaves virtually no residue or gritty feeling.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Pruning saws are great for thinning Japanese maple or crepe myrtle branches that might be rubbing on each other, shooting in the wrong direction, or obstructing a walkway.—
Campbell Vaughn,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
By then, a New York Tribune reporter had arrived and was furiously scribbling into his notepad.—
Charlotte Brooks,
Big Think,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Family members, supporters of the defendants and law enforcement officers sat through hours of closing arguments and instructions to jurors, with some scribbling notes and others dabbing tears from their eyes.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And each dares to honor the humanity in characters often reduced to predators and prey by one faction, shrill social justice warriors and brave free thinkers by another.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In turn, the tone has changed around Newcastle these past few days; less shrill, less edgy, less perilous.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 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
-
What does the phrase squeaky bum time, the racehorse Devon Loch, and the Portuguese proverb ‘morrer na prais’ all have in common?—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The suona is a squeaky instrument.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratching. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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