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 Winning ugly has become a kind of superpower for her, in the years when scratchy form emerged more often than not. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 The sound quality is scratchy; the camerawork is nauseating, and not in a chicly experimental way. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 And many people feel a teaspoon of honey or perhaps tea with honey can soothe a scratchy throat. — Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Since the fire, residents have reported experiencing scratchy throats, headaches and nausea because of the ongoing smell. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 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
  • John Homme sings at the jagged, forlorn beginning of the ninth Queens of the Stone Age album.
    — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
  • As with his previous films, Iñárritu tells his story using scenes out of order so that the pieces fall together in a jagged form that heightens the tension.
    — Ray Bennett, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • But the current debate begins, like so many irritating conversations, with the 2016 election.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The process is used to transform raw, localized ingredients — such as rice, but also honey and soybeans — into more potent but non-irritating formulas that target cellular turnover and provide deep hydration by penetrating the skin more effectively.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritating
Adjective
  • His voice sounded hoarse from his marathon of back-to-back rallies ahead of Election Day.
    — Shahrzad Rasekh Patrick Cooley Mark Bonamo Kevin Williams, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Now life was like that; some days fine and firm and full of whatever, while other days the hoarse bark of the neighbors’ dog or a friend’s grim diagnosis and her body succumbed to an emotional gravity that pulled her into a free fall.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of hoarse
Adjective
  • This more senior lineup could indicate that Moscow is readier than before to address thorny political and military questions.
    — Willem Marx, NPR, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Differences with Iran over its nuclear program remain the thorniest issue and one that Trump insists must be resolved as part of any deal meant to end the more than 8-month-old war.
    — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of thorny
Adjective
  • The two-time Oscar winner wrote in his upcoming memoir, Look at Me, that Nichols was gruff in their interactions.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Loneliness looms as a threat to all genders, but men, who are lauded for gruff stoicism and scorned for vulnerability, can be especially ill-equipped to navigate atomization.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • The noodles vibrate with heat, ricocheting between the prickly Sichuan pepper, hot garlic, chiles and soothing sesame.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The accent was particularly important to get right, as Heumann’s Brooklyn upbringing was a huge part of her life, and indicative of her prickly personality.
    — Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of prickly
Adjective
  • Gomez, who has a noticeably husky, raspy voice at times, answered a fan question about her vocal quirkiness during an Instagram Live session last December.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Her husky voice made Pugh, as an up-and-comer, seem wise beyond her years in breakout roles as a Machiavellian teenage bride in Lady Macbeth and an actor turned spy in The Little Drummer Girl.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 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 11 Nov. 2026.

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