scratchy

adjective

ˈskra-chē How to pronounce scratchy (audio)
Definition of scratchynext
1
as in jagged
having leaves or branches which are likely to cause a scratch scratchy shrubbery that's intended to keep kids and pets off the old man's property

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in irritating
causing an unpleasant tingling sensation the wool pants are so scratchy that I can't stand to wear them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound her voice was scratchy from a cold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scratchy Your dry scratchy eyes also aren’t a figment of your imagination. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 July 2026 Symptoms of smoke inhalation include coughing, trouble breathing, wheezing, asthma attacks, stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose and irritated sinuses, headaches, tiredness, chest pain and a fast heartbeat. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Using too much detergent leaves soapy residue in fabrics, trapping dirt, bacteria, and hard water minerals, which leaves clothes looking dull, feeling stiff and scratchy, and smelling bad. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 While some of my linen pieces feel scratchy, this one is ultra soft and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratchy
  1. jagged
  2. irritating
  3. hoarse
  4. thorny
  5. gruff
  6. prickly
  7. husky
Adjective
  • The man’s skull had broken in 61 separate places, and another 60 jagged bits of bone were distributed across his ribs.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Arctic dreams Russian President Vladimir Putin has long envisioned the 3,500-mile route along Russia’s jagged Arctic coastline becoming a major artery for trade – and a driver of investment in Russian ports and oil and gas fields.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • The larger battery gives it the sort of range that makes an EV genuinely useful for long-distance driving, while the interior avoids some of the irritating touchscreen-heavy trends found elsewhere.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Sabalenka double-faulted on match point, her seventh double fault of the day, to put an exclamation point on an irritating evening.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating
Adjective
  • Workers also reported hoarse voices, chronic coughs and asthma-like symptoms.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • When 39 days of elite physical punishment concluded with stadium lights dimming across North America, millions of fans limped away from watch parties with hoarse voices and sore feet.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of hoarse
Adjective
  • Connecting people with clinical trials is complicated – even if people identify a promising match, there’s a slew of potentially thorny factors, including geographic incompatibility, and financial and time considerations.
    — Michelle Andrews, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The two companies have a number of complementary businesses — including substantial pipeline and storage networks — but combining the operations would have been thorny.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of thorny
Adjective
  • When Duffy walked out humbly to the stage, with a gentle handwave and smile, Dupree removed his cap atop his long rocker ponytail, put his gruff hand on Duffy’s lean shoulder and asked the crowd for a moment of silence.
    — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Tyler Hoechlin will play her love interest, Brendan, a gruff fishing boat captain.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • Santa Cruz teen lifeguard Ryder Williams got a close-up view of the president’s prickly relationship with the press during a White House visit Monday.
    — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The California Native Plant Society says the prickly bunchgrass’ stalks grow up to 3 feet.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of prickly
Adjective
  • Tyler, after a brief recovery period, returned to the recording studio with a huskier, edgier voice.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • The extravagant, hi-NRG single showcased the breadth of Tyler’s husky grandeur, which proved a perfect fit for Giorgio Moroder.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Definition of husky

Browse Nearby Words

scratch pads
scratchy
scrawl
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Cite this Entry

“Scratchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratchy. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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