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as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
her voice was scratchy from a cold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scratchy
The cups are removable, which is nice, depending on my mood, and the lace isn’t itchy or scratchy on my sensitive skin.
—
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 4 Aug. 2025
The effects can be felt right away, says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), with symptoms including a scratchy throat, coughing, trouble breathing, and chest pain.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 Aug. 2025
Digital techniques could clean up the scratchy sound of great performances from the nineteen-twenties and thirties, putting record companies sometimes in competition with their own backlists.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
This portable humidifier from Hey Dewy soothes scratchy throats and boosts skin hydration while traveling.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 4 Aug. 2025
The effects can be felt right away, says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), with symptoms including a scratchy throat, coughing, trouble breathing, and chest pain.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 Aug. 2025
Digital techniques could clean up the scratchy sound of great performances from the nineteen-twenties and thirties, putting record companies sometimes in competition with their own backlists.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
This portable humidifier from Hey Dewy soothes scratchy throats and boosts skin hydration while traveling.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratchy
Adjective
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There is nothing quite like the view from Monterey Bay—jagged coastline and evergreens framing a strip of blue.—
Beth Lew-Williams,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
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Visitors will find themselves with jaws agape at the striking jagged mountain peaks, looming glaciers, and slick icebergs, all set to the backdrop of moody, misty weather—this is a photographer’s dream adventure.—
Stefanie Waldek,
AFAR Media,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nina not being there contributed to one of the most irritating moments in this season so far, with Antonio smugly blowing a kiss into the camera for her and gloating about being in the top after her harsh critique last week.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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An irritating habit of his is to stop by and launch into long-winded stories about some mundane event in his present or past life or to pontificate about a current event.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Her voice was loud and hoarse, calling out comments or exhortations concerning the game.—
Rachel Cusk,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
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Joe Biden’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance, when the nation witnessed a hoarse and feeble president losing his train of thought and struggling to finish sentences, ended his re-election campaign.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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The process to get a refund could be thorny for some.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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That’s a tall order with abysmal civic education and sharp partisan divisions over thorny issues.—
Karlyn Bowman,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
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The barbs were frequently aimed at the gruff owner of Mel’s Diner played by the late Vic Tayback.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Much of its body is covered in prickly sensory hair-like structures called setae, researchers said.—
Lauren Liebhaber
September 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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Revenge wears a wry smile in this prickly comedy from Paul Weitz (the director of American Pie and About a Boy), as Fonda and Tomlin inhabit former best friends who reunite for a funeral.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The star’s lower, huskier baritone voice has always made an impact in BTS’ music with the star citing the likes of Bing Crosby, Eric Benet and Ruben Studdard as inspirations.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Carpenter is plainly a student of Parton’s, evoking her pinup styling (voluminous hair, big red lips), her persona (sharp with a knowing wink), and her voice, which is rich and husky and accompanied by a country lilt.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scratchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratchy. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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