1
as in scrawling
to write or draw hastily or carelessly
she scribbled a quick note on the pad by the door before leaving
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in writing
to compose and set down on paper the words of
he scribbled a quick note to his wife and taped it to the front door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scribbling
The customs officer began speaking to me very fast and pointing—the translator scribbling down notes all the while.
—
Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Lanier leaned on his down-home Texas folksiness throughout the trial, telling the jury what was on his heart and scribbling with grease pencil on his demonstrative aids.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
By then, a New York Tribune reporter had arrived and was furiously scribbling into his notepad.
—Charlotte Brooks, Big Think, 13 Mar. 2026
Family members, supporters of the defendants and law enforcement officers sat through hours of closing arguments and instructions to jurors, with some scribbling notes and others dabbing tears from their eyes.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
That means no reporters scribbling down who’s canoodling with whom at the bar.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
Quatisha Maycock, 5, had just learned how to write her name and practiced scribbling it every day up until she was thrown into the Everglades and left to be eaten by alligators.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
No more scribbling names on napkins and losing them later.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The flashy country singer had his suits with him in a dry cleaner’s bag and, when inspiration struck, Parton snatched the receipt from the bag and began scribbling.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2026
Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Lanier leaned on his down-home Texas folksiness throughout the trial, telling the jury what was on his heart and scribbling with grease pencil on his demonstrative aids.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
By then, a New York Tribune reporter had arrived and was furiously scribbling into his notepad.
—Charlotte Brooks, Big Think, 13 Mar. 2026
Family members, supporters of the defendants and law enforcement officers sat through hours of closing arguments and instructions to jurors, with some scribbling notes and others dabbing tears from their eyes.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
That means no reporters scribbling down who’s canoodling with whom at the bar.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
Quatisha Maycock, 5, had just learned how to write her name and practiced scribbling it every day up until she was thrown into the Everglades and left to be eaten by alligators.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
No more scribbling names on napkins and losing them later.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The flashy country singer had his suits with him in a dry cleaner’s bag and, when inspiration struck, Parton snatched the receipt from the bag and began scribbling.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scribbling
Verb
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The act of scrawling them upon the page is tangible and pleasing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Nov. 2025
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Chalamet invites his Instagram followers to meet him at Regal Times Square to watch the first 30 minutes of Marty Supreme by scrawling the message on his Instagram Story in orange.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There is nothing harder than writing a book.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Today, there's writing on the wall outside, proclaiming the miracle of Ho Khanh.—
Nicole Young,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Eggs may be dyed one color, with designs created by scratching the egg with a sharp tool to reveal the white eggshell beneath.—
Elaine Rewolinski,
jsonline.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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Florida shooting guard Xavian Lee’s indecision culminated in a coast-to-coast sequence that ended in a head-scratching turnover instead of a potential game-winner.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scribbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scribbling. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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