as in dwarfs
a living thing 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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scraps
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
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 scrubs
Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Kim Raver honored her longtime co-star by sharing a nostalgic snapshot of the two suited up in their scrubs.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
In situations like these, when your go-to scrubs and sprays just aren’t doing the trick, look to your shower for an answer.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Body wraps, scrubs, bamboo massages, and pink salt therapies are available using a range of Tata Harper skincare products.
—Nneka M. Okona, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
Rubs and scrubs are powerfully restorative and facials using ESPA and 111 Skin products have instant effects.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
The person examining you is wearing a white coat or scrubs and a stethoscope but could be a physician assistant.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The spa’s lounge takeover a day earlier combines short treatments, DIY scrubs and chocolate treats.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
The nurse on duty is a small Filipina lady wearing scrubs printed with baby ducks.
—Jasmin 'iolani Hakes, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2026
Precipitation scrubs the atmosphere clean, picking up pollutants on its way down to the ground.
—Isabel Lopez, Parents, 11 Feb. 2026
China operates one of the world’s most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes that scrubs political dissent and criticism of the ruling Communist Party’s leadership and ideologies, including a drive against feminine portrayals of men in pop culture.
—Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Blue Origin scrubs New Glenn liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
And then there's the dish brush, which scrubs away grease and grime with less effort.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
As the government scrubs websites, formerly reliable sources of information have disappeared.
—Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Working as part of a collaboration often scrubs the more human elements from the story, those moments that might be unflattering are the moments that remind people that these mythic figures of our imagination are, in fact, flawed humans, just like you and me.
—Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Noun
The photograph through the cross panes of Patrick’s window showed an unnamed doctor—Hughes—in scrubs and a white mask, head bowed, looking down at what was the baby’s incubator, though all that was visible on the cover was a fuzzy black smear in the lower-right corner.
—Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Kim Raver honored her longtime co-star by sharing a nostalgic snapshot of the two suited up in their scrubs.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
In situations like these, when your go-to scrubs and sprays just aren’t doing the trick, look to your shower for an answer.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Body wraps, scrubs, bamboo massages, and pink salt therapies are available using a range of Tata Harper skincare products.
—Nneka M. Okona, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
Rubs and scrubs are powerfully restorative and facials using ESPA and 111 Skin products have instant effects.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
The person examining you is wearing a white coat or scrubs and a stethoscope but could be a physician assistant.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The spa’s lounge takeover a day earlier combines short treatments, DIY scrubs and chocolate treats.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
The nurse on duty is a small Filipina lady wearing scrubs printed with baby ducks.
—Jasmin 'iolani Hakes, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
If one person always scrubs toilet bowl rings, resentment can build, so try to get ahead of that.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2026
Precipitation scrubs the atmosphere clean, picking up pollutants on its way down to the ground.
—Isabel Lopez, Parents, 11 Feb. 2026
China operates one of the world’s most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes that scrubs political dissent and criticism of the ruling Communist Party’s leadership and ideologies, including a drive against feminine portrayals of men in pop culture.
—Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Blue Origin scrubs New Glenn liftoff.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
And then there's the dish brush, which scrubs away grease and grime with less effort.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
As the government scrubs websites, formerly reliable sources of information have disappeared.
—Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Working as part of a collaboration often scrubs the more human elements from the story, those moments that might be unflattering are the moments that remind people that these mythic figures of our imagination are, in fact, flawed humans, just like you and me.
—Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrubs
Noun
-
At scale, this dwarfs data center optimization gains.—
Arjun Sharma,
IEEE Spectrum,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The ditch that’s up to 19 feet deep dwarfs the heavy machinery inside of it.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But then Belly scraps her Parisian plans and pledges her young life to Jeremiah, a rising super senior at Finch majoring in getting high and going to Cabo (which, quite honestly, is more age-appropriate than a wedding).—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement When Eun-jae disappears before the transplant, Seong-sin sends his men to kill her, but cancels the order at the last second.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … PULLING THE PLUG – Amazon cancels 'Melania' movie screening at cinema after sign backfires.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From midgets to Indy cars, from sprint cars to stock cars, Stewart was at home behind the wheel.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As for that Lucy and Stephen ending, Oppenheimer previously explained in her deep dive with THR on the finale that the moment when Stephen abandons Lucy at the gas station is ultimately what frees her from their relationship, and Van Patten agrees.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
-
O’Hara found her highest-profile role in Home Alone (1990), as a harried suburban mom who accidentally abandons her 8-year-old son.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Among other things, the legislation adds work requirements for able-bodied adults starting in January 2027, revokes Medicaid access to some immigrants, including refugees and people seeking asylum, and checks whether someone is eligible for the program every six months instead of every year.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Trump revokes Canada’s spot on ‘Board of Peace’ 2.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the event that an operator aborts an interception, the drone will fly back to base ready to be used again — a potential major cost-saver.—
Alex Holmes,
NBC news,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scrubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrubs. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
