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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
Scrub them with the scratchy side of a sponge, and make sure to dry the wood immediately so that extra water doesn't linger.
—
Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Our eyes are itchy, our throats are scratchy, our nose is runny, our head is pounding with congestion.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Your throat might feel dry and scratchy; maybe your muscles start to feel tight muscles.
—Katharine Gammon, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Overdosing detergent and allowing the soapy residue to become trapped along with body soil leaves fabrics stiff and scratchy.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
Our eyes are itchy, our throats are scratchy, our nose is runny, our head is pounding with congestion.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Your throat might feel dry and scratchy; maybe your muscles start to feel tight muscles.
—Katharine Gammon, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Overdosing detergent and allowing the soapy residue to become trapped along with body soil leaves fabrics stiff and scratchy.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratchy
Adjective
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From Buffalo Grove, the district goes northwest on a jagged path through Mundelein, Fox Lake, and into McHenry County.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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Rescuers said the conditions were treacherous, with deep drifting snow, jagged ice and extremely limited visibility that slowed efforts to reach the man.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Here's where things get a bit irritating.—
Justin Pot,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
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Rather than focusing on clarity with harsh actives, a key component to the glass skin trend is using gentle, non-irritating ingredients that take your skin to a healthier state.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As her own doppelgänger, Red, Nyong'o is as terrifying as Adelaide is terrified, speaking with a distinctive, hoarse voice that sends a chill up your spine.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Mar. 2026
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Tears have been shed, throats have been screamed hoarse.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Merit filed for bankruptcy last July and became embroiled in a thorny legal dispute with a former broadcasting business partner.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
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But this is so thorny and complicated when human beings are at the other end of these really complex nuclear issues and military issues.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As Liborio, an orphan who risked his life to cross the border and ended up living in the attic of a bookstore thanks to the kindness of the gruff owner, Chief (Eddie Marsan), the actor plays a narrator who consistently breaks the fourth wall.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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As Woody Harrelson detailed Harrison Ford's accomplishments from the Actors Awards stage, the famously gruff actor seemed to squirm in his seat, somehow uncomfortable with praise even at the age of 83.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Based on the book by Bart Baker, Honeymoon with Harry follows a rough-around-the-edges man (Gyllenhaal) who ends up sharing an unwanted journey with his fiancée’s prickly, overprotective father (Costner) after a life-altering turn upends their plans.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
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The best neo-soul is raw, prickly music that’s way too emotionally complex to be reduced to a moodboard aesthetic.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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One such pet, Lainey, a husky shepherd, was found after going missing in Arizona with the help of a neighbor's Ring camera.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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The team can help plan reindeer and husky rides, reindeer farm visits, snowmobiles tours across the area’s fells and taiga forests, or Aurora-chasing tours, guided by local experts.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scratchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratchy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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