scrunched

past tense of scrunch
1
2
as in crouched
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 scraped
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 scrunched Sitting at the defendant’s table, Flynn scrunched up his face and appeared to be crying as the 911 call was played aloud. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 Sheer tees scrunched and stretched in awkward ways at Brandon Maxwell. — Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 16 Sep. 2026 The bottle is scrunched up, but the distinctive logo from the ABC series remains. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2026 As the players headed to their benches and the officials took their customary walks to the scorer’s table for the time out, Atkinson scrunched his face, stuck out his hands, and mockingly clapped toward Blair — who ignored the obvious taunt. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 May 2026 Louis' scrunched up face got an affectionate giggle out of his dad as the two sat side-by-side at the 80th anniversary of VE Day in 2025. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026 Mind you, that was also by design — the west side of the stadium was roped off entirely, so that 50% of capacity was scrunched into one half of the building. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026 Further inspection found a Mexican citizen scrunched into a makeshift, dry compartment in the gas tank that February day. — Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026 Reduce frizz, add shine, and offer your curls a soft, flexible hold with Bumble and Bumble's Curl Defining Styling Cream, which should be scrunched into wet hair from mid-shaft to ends before air drying or diffusing. — Lily Wohlner, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrunched
Verb
  • The aircraft crashed to the ground in a private farm field near McMinnville Municipal Airport, officials said, with a red helicopter left crumpled in pieces and a green helicopter lying upside down.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • On his last two drives, he was pressured into oblivion, forced to throw off-balance once and crumpled to the ground one other time.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Video shows that intrepid fan crouched behind the defensive line and then batted down the pass from Davidson.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The final photo in the set featured Hewitt and Davidson crouched beside the wagon, smiling lovingly at their daughter.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Their data is based on information that is scraped from state and county health departments, along with other resources, so its figures are ahead of reports from the CDC.
    — Dhruti Shah, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Details from my résumé had apparently been scraped from the internet, and commenters were debating my intentions.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Omitsu extended her delicate white hand toward Shinsuke, who sat sullen, arms folded.
    — Yasushi Inoue, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
  • While Freeform was folded into Erwich’s and by extension Sethi’s portfolio awhile back, National Geographic Content, led by President Courteney Monroe, has remained a separate unit reporting to OConnell.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • After officials huddled, Verden was credited with a catch off a deflection but not the touchdown due to an inadvertent whistle.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Najera, Iverson and Martin were on the floor together, and Iverson huddled them to plead for intensity.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Grated or gritted cornbread is a late-summer Appalachian tradition.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
  • Both of these teams are elite and gritted through losses in the College World Series to get to these finals.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • All items arrived clean (professional cleaning is included in your BNTO box subscription) and showed no wear and tear, though they were wrinkled from shipping and needed a good steam before wearing.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The same men worked in the lobby—a little fatter, a little more wrinkled and gray.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That cute little feral furball was mean as hell and bit, scratched, and ultimately abandoned the family.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Anyone who is bit or scratched should immediately seek medical attention and report the attack to police.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scrunched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrunched. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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