scrunch

1
2
as in to crouch
to lie low with the limbs close to the body the climbers scrunched down on the leeward side of a large boulder and waited for the storm to pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to scrape
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound scrunched loose gravel with every footstep

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 scrunch Her nose scrunches up like something smells bad in here. Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 19 Aug. 2025 An image of his little face, scrunched in discomfort, but no sound coming from his little mouth, was instantly clear. Zoë Jones, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025 To use mousse, rake and then scrunch it into clean, damp hair (after applying a good shampoo for curly hair and leave-in conditioner for curls). Malia Griggs, Glamour, 23 June 2025 The department shared a photo from the rescue on Facebook the following day, showing the tiny nocturnal mammal with its face uncomfortably scrunched into the hole of a storm drain. Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrunch
Verb
  • Cause of crash is being investigated Videos of the accident show the carriage toppled to its side and crashed into a building on the steep and narrow street, with parts of the streetcar crumpled.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Last month, a Chinese coast guard vessel collided with a naval destroyer while attempting to drive away a Philippine patrol ship in the South China Sea, leaving its bow crumpled and twisted.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This spring, my grandson crouched beside me to plant peas, 20 years after his father helped dig the first bed.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
  • In footage shared by the AP, the leopard was seen crouching on the ground next to the boy's vehicle before chasing the car and leaping at the window.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Beat in vanilla and 1 of the eggs until smooth, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Although some of this base layer was likely ejected as well, Desch and his colleague Alan Jackson, also of Arizona State University, used simulations to determine that most of the material scraped from the baby Plutos was nitrogen.
    Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Marswalker opens its fold-out front doors, and the S2 drives up into a central compartment before the doors close again to secure the S2 in place.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Foldable smartphones typically have one hinge that allows a user to fold the device in half.
    Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Just over two hours east of San Diego and 15 miles north of the Mexican border town of Mexicali, El Centro has both grit and charm.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
  • But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The cats kept them up each night with their incessant whining and scratching at their doors.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
  • What itch does that scratch that the rest of this doesn’t?
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scrunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrunch. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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