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
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Unless Drury is just scratching the surface as a 26-year-old, his 27 points in 82 regular-season games aren’t as promising a sign as his postseason highlights.
—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.
—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
In a moment that left everyone scratching their heads, Zaire's Mwepu Ilunga broke from the defensive wall as Brazil was getting ready to make a free kick during their match.
—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Zoo veterinarians and staff will closely monitor the cubs and observe their behaviors like making small climbs, scratching through substrate and calling to one another when startled.
—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2026
One of those 17 was a bullpen game — with Ober’s injury, the Twins currently have four starters on the roster — and in one game, the Twins had to press Woods Richardson into duty after scratching Rojas an hour before the game.
—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Equity versus debt Corporate bonds have been the hyperscalers’ main source of financing for the AI buildout so far, so the switch to equity has some analysts scratching their heads.
—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Use a dry cloth and gentle pressure to remove buildup without scratching delicate surfaces.
—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
27 May 2026
Verb
Repairing Furniture There are few misfortunes greater than scratching a new piece of dark wood furniture.
—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Unless Drury is just scratching the surface as a 26-year-old, his 27 points in 82 regular-season games aren’t as promising a sign as his postseason highlights.
—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.
—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
In a moment that left everyone scratching their heads, Zaire's Mwepu Ilunga broke from the defensive wall as Brazil was getting ready to make a free kick during their match.
—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Zoo veterinarians and staff will closely monitor the cubs and observe their behaviors like making small climbs, scratching through substrate and calling to one another when startled.
—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2026
One of those 17 was a bullpen game — with Ober’s injury, the Twins currently have four starters on the roster — and in one game, the Twins had to press Woods Richardson into duty after scratching Rojas an hour before the game.
—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Equity versus debt Corporate bonds have been the hyperscalers’ main source of financing for the AI buildout so far, so the switch to equity has some analysts scratching their heads.
—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Use a dry cloth and gentle pressure to remove buildup without scratching delicate surfaces.
—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching
Adjective
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Alternatively, lean into parachute pants' casual sheen by opting for a pair in metallic nylon or satin.
-
That includes the overhanging flat roof supported by thin gold metallic columns.
Adjective
-
Across Washington and Oregon, jagged walls of blackberry brambles choke out nearly every hiking trail, highway shoulder, and vacant lot in the region.
-
Why does Orange County have so many families living on the jagged edges of the local economy?
Verb
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Moore argues the city should be doing annual sand management, rather than scraping for funds and coming up short each time the larger-scale project comes around.
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Keeping the burners on high and using the scraping tool or a bench scraper, scrape at a roughly 45-degree angle to remove the rust or the stuck-on food.
Verb
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Many kids joined Club America in part because Kirk’s conservative principles appealed to them and in part because rubbing elbows with wealthy donors who frequented Mar-a-Lago did, too.
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But Jonah never accepted plenty of welcoming hands despite rubbing elbows in such crowds, and Jamon hardly let his son leave the house, least of all for a party.
Verb
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Each time Yamamoto took the mound, his interpreter, Sonoda, sat on the dugout ledge, scribbling his own notes to help streamline Yamamoto’s process.
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Behind them, Lauren Lloyd, 33, visiting from Nashville, sat earnestly scribbling on her wish tag, which was filled from edge to edge with neat script.
Adjective
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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.
-
The chaos is still an acceptable price to pay for Birney’s expertly offputting performance, a shrill mania that gets increasingly comic over time.
Adjective
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Still, the glimpses of freedom Clark offers are all the more piercing for their rarity.
-
The ping of pickleball play produces a uniquely piercing and repetitive sound that has led to contentious lawsuits and controversies across the entire country, including just north in Fox Point, as the sport has rapidly grown in popularity over the last few years.
Verb
-
In Canape Vert, walls now only protect homeowners from criminals but also send a message against the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition with their graffiti scrawling.
-
The act of scrawling them upon the page is tangible and pleasing.
Cite this Entry
“Scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratching. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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