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
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
Dishwasher Tablet Use a damp dishwasher tablet (not a pod) to scrub away grease from the inside of your glass oven door without scratching.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2026
Still, even some fans of the project were left scratching their heads.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
Ballard also agreed that a victim fighting off her attacker and scratching him would likely have the attacker’s DNA under her fingernails.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Companies are only scratching the surface.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Most of the productions that canceled dropped only a single Sunday performance, with only The Book of Mormon and Disney’s Aladdin and The Lion King scratching Saturday shows as well.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Dan Muse, a hire that had a few of us scratching our heads, now seems like the perfect choice.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But so was the team's coach and that's why the decision revealed on Thursday had parents scratching their heads.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
Mock suggests using gentle cleaning tools to avoid scratching the flooring.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
Dishwasher Tablet Use a damp dishwasher tablet (not a pod) to scrub away grease from the inside of your glass oven door without scratching.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2026
Still, even some fans of the project were left scratching their heads.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
Ballard also agreed that a victim fighting off her attacker and scratching him would likely have the attacker’s DNA under her fingernails.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Companies are only scratching the surface.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Most of the productions that canceled dropped only a single Sunday performance, with only The Book of Mormon and Disney’s Aladdin and The Lion King scratching Saturday shows as well.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Dan Muse, a hire that had a few of us scratching our heads, now seems like the perfect choice.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But so was the team's coach and that's why the decision revealed on Thursday had parents scratching their heads.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching
Adjective
-
The Samsonite Medium Check-In Spinner is a more affordable alternative to Stewart’s Rimowa metallic carry-on, and right now, it’s deeply discounted at over $200 off.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
-
At the show's afterparty, Browne and his models—some still wearing the metallic hair adornments from the show—loosened up a bit as a DJ positioned in one corner of the tent attempted to manifest Latifah with a quick mix of her hits.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These handheld masterpieces may come with jagged edges and some discrepancy in hole size, but the flavor and texture are perfect every time.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Located in Jackson Hole, this serene landscape is home to glistening lakes, jagged terrain, and beautiful moose, mule deer, bison, and elk.—
Giovanna Caravetta,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The familiar sounds of scraping and shoveling are back.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
That feeling stops, however, when pulling into gas stations or parking lots, where the length and lowness of the car require extreme care to keep the chin from scraping.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
However, there is a risk of the shinbone rubbing against the femur with this type of injury, which can injure the cartilage (which is designed to reduce friction between the bones).—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
3 Feb. 2026
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The lawsuit accuses Smith of grooming the boy and touching him inappropriately, including rubbing his buttocks and pressing his own body against the boy's while he was seated at his desk.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Quatisha Maycock, 5, had just learned how to write her name and practiced scribbling it every day up until she was thrown into the Everglades and left to be eaten by alligators.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
-
No more scribbling names on napkins and losing them later.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There’s a straight line between the criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell and increasingly shrill threats to seize Greenland.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
-
With sports gambling legalized throughout much of the country and growing rapidly, the NCAA and the sports gambling industry should be hearing shrill alarm bells in this indictment and acting accordingly.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Jan. 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
-
Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Here, a professional cleaner shares how to degrease almost any area of the kitchen—from range hoods to squeaky cabinets and more.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratching. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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