SCRUNCHING Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

scrunching

verb

present participle of scrunch

as in crumpling

to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in scrunched up the shirt and tossed it in the laundry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in crouching

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

as in scraping

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

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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 scrunching Next, flip the head forward while scrunching upwards to help enhance curl definition. — Elise Tabin, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026 Pick Ups Toe pick-ups involve picking up small items by scrunching your toes around them. — Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026 In the meantime, Atomi encourages people to try the supine core and toe-scrunching exercises at home. — Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026 He could be seen scrunching his face in anticipation. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025 Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground and use your toes to grab and curl the towel toward you, scrunching it up several times before switching sides. — Jakob Roze, Health, 26 Dec. 2025 To re-create the style, Abramite recommends adding mousse to damp hair and blow-drying with a diffuser while scrunching for volume at the roots and expansion throughout. — Marci Robin, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025 And some ankle booties with wedge heels might appear moderate, but can actually throw your weight onto the balls of your feet, scrunching your toes up against the toe box. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025 But on a multi-night getaway, scrunching a sweatshirt behind your head gets old fast. — Emily Pennington, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrunching

Verb

But Mulderrig’s red Harley-Davidson Sportster slammed into the rear passenger side of Oates’ Cadillac, crumpling the back corner and twisting the wheel out of shape.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Euphoric players cavorting in disbelief, long-suffering fans crumpling to their knees in tears, commentators’ voices cracking at the drama of it all.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of crumpling

Verb

Cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping once or twice.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
The Thunder were scraping the rotational barrel hard enough on Monday against the Phoenix Suns that rookie two-way Josh Dix played 10 straight minutes in the second half.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of scraping

Verb

Ralf Schützhold, a professor at theoretical physics at HZDR, therefore suggests making such a bandgap through other means, such as cutting and folding the graphene to create tiny edges.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
That includes making your bed, folding clothes, even pulling on a sweatshirt, where your nails are at risk of getting caught and pulling.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of folding

Verb

Lee is forever grunting and scratching and clearing his throat.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
People are advised to watch for signs of rodent activity including droppings, gnaw marks, scratching or scurrying sounds and rub marks along baseboards or around entry points.

— Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado Updated October 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of scratching

Verb

The symptom that alarmed me most in that moment was the progressive skin wrinkling in some NCBRS teens.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Synthetic suede was used on the pink toe tip in 2011, but the shoe now features the real thing in order to avoid wrinkling and folding.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of wrinkling

Verb

And those options extend well beyond a binary choice between taking an opioid and gritting your teeth.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026
Red flag The Dodgers still don’t know what to reasonably expect from Ohtani, gritting out the postseason despite discomfort in his left knee and right arm.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of gritting

Browse Nearby Words

scrunches

scrunching

scruple

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“Scrunching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrunching. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of scrunching

verb

Example Sentences

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