scrubbing

verb

present participle of scrub
as in scrapping
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

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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 scrubbing The company dispensed with its DEI disclosures to investors, scrubbing any references to goals and resources aimed at boosting diversity at the company. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 Let everything sit on your toilet bowl for a while before scrubbing gently and finally flushing your toilet. — Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 27 Sep. 2026 Storing knives loose in a drawer and scrubbing them too zealously creates a fine network of scratches, further dulling the finish. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026 Rinse it all off and enjoy a fresh, welcoming space that’s as good as new, no major scrubbing marathon required. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026 Focus on crevices and edges where grease and debris tend to accumulate, but avoid scrubbing too harshly. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026 Soak pans before cleaning them, and turn off the faucet when scrubbing. — Simmone Shah, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Avoid scrubbing hard on waterproof or specialized protective coating. — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrubbing
  1. scrapping
  2. abandoning
  3. canceling
  4. revoking
  5. aborting
  6. repealing
Verb
  • His party invited high school activists on stage at a rally Sunday, then proposed lowering the voting age to 16 and scrapping selective admissions at universities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Bumble distinguished itself by only allowing women to message first, eventually going public in 2021 at a $14 billion valuation, before scrapping its hallmark rule this year amid declining users.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of scrapping
Verb
  • The protestors accuse Kumar of abandoning his constitutional obligation to act impartially.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Schottenheimer has faced questions throughout the week around the offense handling pressure, abandoning the run early in games, not finding explosive plays and more.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of abandoning
Verb
  • No one could’ve blamed the grieving community for canceling the game.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Hours earlier, the 77-year-old wrestling Hall of Famer apologized on social media site X for canceling a weekend appearance at the Washington State Horror Con in Puyallup.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of canceling
Verb
  • Sesno said that could be waged in court or through contracts, revoking security clearances or launching investigations.
    — Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That’s despite the UAE revoking visas or residency permits for some Iranian expats during the conflict.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of revoking
Verb
  • Mission Control faced the prospect of aborting the landing, but Margaret's ingenious programming allowed the system to prioritize essential tasks while canceling the inessential ones.
    — Dean Robbins, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fifteen seconds after touching down, one of the pilots called for aborting the landing and the engine throttles were increased to a value consistent with go-around thrust, the NTSB said.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of aborting
Verb
  • The lawmakers argued that repealing the credits while major projects were still under construction would jeopardize investments already underway and the jobs tied to them.
    — Kayla Morton, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Trades Council endorsed the campaign for repealing the law, according to Ballotpedia, while Schmidt spent heavily to defend it.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of repealing

Browse Nearby Words

scrubbed
scrubbing
scrubby
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Cite this Entry

“Scrubbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrubbing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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