1
as in crumpled
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
scrunched up the shirt and tossed it in the laundry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrunched
This faux leather style features an elegant, rounded collar and scrunched sleeves that together create a bold, endlessly versatile piece that can be thrown over a dress and knee-high boots for an afternoon brunch, or paired with denim and sneakers for a day of exploring.
—
Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Dries Van Noten wrapped a denim trench coat in a colorful, tapestry-like belts, scrunched baggy jeans into shin-grazing boots and added a bomber-style collar to a denim blazer.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
Talayah Walker scrunched her eyebrows at the podium when Georgia Tech coach Karen Blair mentioned — in a complimentary way — that her star sophomore had committed only one turnover Sunday.
—Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Late in the third quarter, Buzelis turned away from the basket and scrunched up his face in a grimace of disgust.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Fatigue is just part of the deal this season with the schedule scrunched up because of the Olympics.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Unlike a typical golden, her dog sports an underbite and scrunched nose, giving her a uniquely charming expression.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
The cast scrunched out easily, leaving curls soft and natural-looking.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
Kavya tugs on my arm, her nose is scrunched up, eyebrows discombobulated.
—Navdeep Singh Dhillon, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Dries Van Noten wrapped a denim trench coat in a colorful, tapestry-like belts, scrunched baggy jeans into shin-grazing boots and added a bomber-style collar to a denim blazer.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
Talayah Walker scrunched her eyebrows at the podium when Georgia Tech coach Karen Blair mentioned — in a complimentary way — that her star sophomore had committed only one turnover Sunday.
—Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Late in the third quarter, Buzelis turned away from the basket and scrunched up his face in a grimace of disgust.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Fatigue is just part of the deal this season with the schedule scrunched up because of the Olympics.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Unlike a typical golden, her dog sports an underbite and scrunched nose, giving her a uniquely charming expression.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
The cast scrunched out easily, leaving curls soft and natural-looking.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
Kavya tugs on my arm, her nose is scrunched up, eyebrows discombobulated.
—Navdeep Singh Dhillon, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrunched
Verb
-
Spread the bedding out as much as possible in the machine so it’s not crumpled or folded.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
15 Mar. 2026
-
One woman crumpled into the arms of her fellow protesters.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Silvestro crouched down to take a look.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Kunkel, a freelance journalist at a protest outside an immigration detention center in Chicago on September 26, was crouched behind a van when an agent took aim from a safe perch behind a chain link fence.—
Bob Ortega,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There were scraped knees, arguments about whether the ball was fair or foul, and orange slices at halftime.—
Mark J. Friedlander,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
-
MAKfam, a Chinese restaurant with a Michelin nod for its value, faced a tough first-round opponent, The Empress Seafood, and scraped out a win.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There is also the infamous image of Trump at the 2018 G7, during which he was photographed sitting with his arms folded as other world leaders, including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, tried to engage him.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Is there anything better than getting your clothes back impeccably folded into beautiful rattan boxes?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The three of us squeezed into our bedroom closet and huddled over my phone.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
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The three huddled and came up with an idea for a mural showcasing Chiefs eras, homage to the team’s history from coach Hank Stram’s leadership in the ‘60s and ‘70s to current stars Mahomes and Kelce (not to mention Reid).—
Lisa Gutierrez
March 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the Olympic debutant gritted her teeth and tried to forget about her throbbing, bruised knee.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Westlake graduate missed just one game earlier this season but gritted his way through an undisclosed injury.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bad potatoes might be mushy, bruised, wrinkled, moldy, or green.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
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Minutes stretched into hours as Evelyn focused on ensuring her wedding ring didn't slip off her fingers, now waterlogged and wrinkled.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Monrovia Police Department said the woman suffered minor injuries after the bear swiped at her leg and scratched the back of her knee on Saturday.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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That praise came a day before Blashill scratched Grzelcyk from the Hawks’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrunched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrunched. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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