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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 blend of cotton and linen keeps them soft and flexible without feeling scratchy, but the adjustable elastic waistband is the real star of the show.
—
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The inside material felt like a fuzzy (not scratchy) blanket that would be so great for travel or lounging around the house.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 24 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The inside material felt like a fuzzy (not scratchy) blanket that would be so great for travel or lounging around the house.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 24 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratchy
Adjective
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The plane hitting the water is destructive enough without the help of a jagged coral reef (improbably far from any coastline) slicing through the aircraft’s undercarriage.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Known for their jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and vast icefields, the Canadian Rockies are among the world’s most stunning mountain ranges, forming a natural divide between Alberta and British Columbia.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Derms say mineral blocks tend to be less irritating for sensitive skin.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2026
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In both Dream Scenario and The Drama, Borgli sides with the maligned, framing those who cast judgment as shrewish and needling (exemplified in The Drama with a deliciously irritating performance from Alana Haim).—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His usually peppy voice is hoarse.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The quality of a live show, especially one from a legacy band like Journey, comes down to whether the fans leave satisfied: If diehards and casuals alike walk out of the building with grins and hoarse voices from singing along to the big numbers, that’s a successful outing.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Other works in Pau’s repertoire deal with thorny subjects via more oblique and disjointed imagery.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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The winner will confront a number of thorny issues, including high rents, a stubborn homelessness crisis and street lights stripped of copper wire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Iron Maiden’s singer when Smith joined, Di’Anno, had short hair and a uniquely gruff voice but couldn’t cut it on the road.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Goldstein plays gruff retired footballer and now assistant coach of AFC Richmond Roy Kent.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Meryl Streep‘s Miranda Priestly has always resisted easy categorization, as a prickly boss whose foundation is ultimately much more understanding.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
2 May 2026
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Scott stars as a prickly author who visits an Irish hotel haunted by a witch and also gets embroiled in a murder mystery.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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The 5-year-old husky mix is a regular at Spot's Place in Regina, Saskatchewan, usually attending Monday through Friday.—
Kendall Malinchock,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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In juvenile court Monday, as the teenager with a husky build and beard sat at the defendant’s table, Judge Christopher Van Meir ruled that the teen would remain in custody at least until the next court hearing, scheduled for April 27.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scratchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratchy. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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