1
as in metallic
Related Words
Relevance
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
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
Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
The quest to find out why some Braves were celebrating hits by scratching their heads proved more arduous than expected.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Illuminating Pom Tarnish Eraser gently lifts tarnish from gold, silver, and plated jewelry without scratching or leaving residue.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
But removing Diawara from the rotation altogether has been a head-scratching development.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Eggs may be dyed one color, with designs created by scratching the egg with a sharp tool to reveal the white eggshell beneath.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Florida shooting guard Xavian Lee’s indecision culminated in a coast-to-coast sequence that ended in a head-scratching turnover instead of a potential game-winner.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
This will reduce the risk of scratching your floors or the finish on top.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Modern cosmic data analysis faces some truly head-scratching algorithmic challenges, demanding not just cleverness, but brand-new ways to hunt for answers across vast conceptual spaces.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
Use gentle solutions like dish soap, baking soda, or vinegar to clean without scratching surfaces or leaving streaks.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
The quest to find out why some Braves were celebrating hits by scratching their heads proved more arduous than expected.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Illuminating Pom Tarnish Eraser gently lifts tarnish from gold, silver, and plated jewelry without scratching or leaving residue.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
But removing Diawara from the rotation altogether has been a head-scratching development.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Eggs may be dyed one color, with designs created by scratching the egg with a sharp tool to reveal the white eggshell beneath.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Florida shooting guard Xavian Lee’s indecision culminated in a coast-to-coast sequence that ended in a head-scratching turnover instead of a potential game-winner.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
This will reduce the risk of scratching your floors or the finish on top.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Modern cosmic data analysis faces some truly head-scratching algorithmic challenges, demanding not just cleverness, but brand-new ways to hunt for answers across vast conceptual spaces.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching
Adjective
-
The one eating the pretzels ate her last pretzel, then crushed the little metallic bag in her fist.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
This deep cool brown gets a metallic tinge from bronze brown balayage, making the tresses look super shiny and rich.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Glover, for instance, was particularly captivated by the jagged topography along the moon’s terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Outside the window were snippets of jagged peaks.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Angry Mama Microwave Steam Cleaner is thoughtfully designed to effortlessly remove stubborn messes without scrubbing or scraping for hours on end.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Tore it apart before scraping it and sure enough, tucked into a corner, covered with lint, was an old gold ring.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My hands are almost rubbing [the ground] sometimes.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The slightly higher cut helps prevent sneakers from rubbing your ankle or the top of your foot.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The trilogy concluded on April 1 with Fagen scribbling an inscrutable equation on the car window until, again, taking a break to consult an invisible timepiece on his wrist.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The customs officer began speaking to me very fast and pointing—the translator scribbling down notes all the while.—
Jeremy O. Harris,
Vanity Fair,
1 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
-
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
-
Mike Lookinland needed a break after playing youngest brother Bobby on five seasons of the squeaky clean family sitcom The Brady Bunch.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Her part, like that of Alice in Barry’s previous opera, is enlivened by delightfully squeaky high notes in unexpected places.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratching. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
