SCRATCHING Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

scratching 1 of 2

adjective

as in metallic

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Dissimilar Words

as in jagged

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Dissimilar Words

scratching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scratch

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

as in rubbing

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 scribbling

to write or draw hastily or carelessly scratched a quick doodle in the margins

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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 scratching

Verb

Test the plant’s health by lightly scratching the woody stems—healthy tissue beneath the bark will typically look green. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 Oct. 2026 Well, then the sound of television writer Joe Wiseman clearing his throat over and over again might as well be Gilbert Gottfried’s laugh scratching against a chalkboard. — Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 That tale of two vaccines has experts scratching their heads. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026 Perhaps that’s just a tactic of a contender behind in the polls and scratching away to be the first Republican to lead California since Arnold Schwarzenegger. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026 Baking soda’s mild abrasiveness helps scrub away light stains and grime without scratching your toilet bowl’s porcelain. — Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 27 Sep. 2026 The best snacks have proven staying power, scratching every sweet, salty itch time and time again. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 While most have not dismissed Michelin quite like Lee above, there is quite a bit of head scratching over who was included, who was omitted, and how the ratings were awarded. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2026 This characteristic can provide significant resistance to scratching and wear in demanding environments. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching

Adjective

Saint Laurent sales sank 9 percent in 2024, then another 6 percent last year, amid softening demand in Asia and a cooling attitude toward Vaccarello’s rock ’n’ roll aesthetic and metallic fabrics.

— Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
The shimmering metallic motif of Barbaro’s dress carried through to her shoes, sporting a pair of silver mules courtesy of Paris Texas.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of metallic

Verb

Some of these practices have been reported on before, such as rubbing deodorant against colored pages from magazines to make eye shadow.

— Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
The bigger claim making the rounds, that a few minutes of face rubbing can quiet your body’s stress response, is where dermatologists urge a little caution.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of rubbing

Verb

His father, Bongo, recorded with artists on Houston label Swishahouse, while Toliver began scribbling rhymes in school notebooks and making rudimentary recordings through a PlayStation microphone.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
The gesture sets off a chain reaction, as a parade of strangers begins scribbling their own complaints, anxieties and grudges across the same tiles.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of scribbling

Adjective

With a soprano voice that’s sharp but never shrill, O’Donovan can levitate a heartfelt melody over just about any kind of accompaniment.

— Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
When Caleb Hammer, a thirty-one-year-old personal-finance YouTuber, gets particularly exasperated, his voice enters a shrill upper register.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of shrill

Verb

Now the former child phenom is accused of picking up a permanent marker and scrawling antisemitic graffiti on Southern California homes, according to authorities.

— Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, setting fire to two mosques and scrawling graffiti on buildings, Palestinian officials said.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026