SCRUB Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

scrub 1 of 2

verb

Definition of scrub

as in to scrap

to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) the outdoor art project was scrubbed when the organizers found out they needed permission from city hall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scrub

2 of 2

noun

ˈskrəb

as in toy

something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind that scrub of a mutt turned out to be the smartest dog we ever had

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 scrub

Verb

Also scrub the threads of the bottle neck, the feeder section and its threads, as well as the ports. — Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026 Rather than tackling hardened residue with every scrubbing tool in your arsenal, most upkeep becomes a quick spray-and-leave step from a standing position. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026

Noun

Best scrub treatment This exfoliator instantly removes deposits from the scalp, as well as dry skin and excess sebum. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 Some scrubs feel really harsh, some are sticky, and some even leave an oily residue on the skin—but this one doesn’t do any of that. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scrub

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrub

Verb

Trump said early Friday said that the United States and Iran have agreed to continue peace talks, even though the ceasefire established by last month's preliminary deal has been scrapped.

— Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Jackson also called on her colleagues to scrap a test for gun regulations that that the court created in a landmark 2022 decision.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of scrap

Verb

With trips canceled and his shop in Ely low on traffic, his roughly 60 employees, many of them seasonal, are out of work.

— Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 16 July 2026
Some investors fear that if viewership is down, subscribers could cancel the service, which would negatively affect the platform’s growing advertising business.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of cancel

Noun

And the question is whether the planets even have atmospheres, because M dwarfs are quite active.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 July 2026
Fell also recommends using tall plants for support, including okra or sweet corn; dwarf varieties of corn are known to do well in containers.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Definition of dwarf

Verb

The boxing ring metaphor was largely abandoned once the competition began, even though there were more opportunities to mix baseball’s tradition of walkup music with fight sports’ swaggering walkouts.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026
Critics of the deal hope that the lawsuit will force Paramount to abandon its merger dreams altogether, though that seems hard to imagine, and would leave WBD in a weak position.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Definition of abandon

Noun

The more common nickname, El Mencho, is said to be a diminutive of his first name, Nemesio.

— Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 20 Feb. 2026

Definition of diminutive

Verb

Censorship occurs when the government tries to revoke the green cards of people whose views its biggest donors would prefer not to hear.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Instead, Judge Kiley Stuchlik, of Idaho’s 3rd Judicial District, on Tuesday revoked Andrea Renee Shaw’s $2 million bond — leaving the young mother behind bars.

— Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026

Definition of revoke

Verb

Its sales tax holiday was officially repealed in 2024, and the state has not held a tax-free holiday since.

— Courtney Johnston, PC Magazine, 14 July 2026
Growing concerns around the risks of social media to young people have reignited a discussion on and around Capitol Hill about whether Section 230 should be reformed or repealed.

— Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Definition of repeal

Browse Nearby Words

scroungy

scrub

scrubbed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Scrub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrub. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of scrub

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on scrub

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quid pro quo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes