scrunching

present participle of scrunch
1
2
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

3
as in scraping
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 scrunching 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
  • Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.
    CBS News, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Late on, with the game already won, James Garner and substitute Merlin Rohl chased Enzo Fernandez, sending him crumpling to the turf.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Bystander video captured the sound of at least seven shots and showed people crouching and running for cover.
    Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 15 June 2026
  • Bystander video captured the sound of at least seven shots and showed people crouching and running for cover.
    Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with ⅓ cup sour cream in 2 additions (about 2½ tablespoons each), scraping down bowl as needed.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
  • Meanwhile the servers strain under the weight of AI companies scraping the encyclopedia in bulk, on a roughly $180 million annual budget funded mostly by donations of between two and eleven dollars.
    Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Before noon, families had folding chairs lined up along Highways 244 and 16A, in Keystone and Hill City, and not for any parade – just to look up nearly 12 hours from now.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • It can also be lifted using a folding slow-rebound grip that doesn't jarringly snap back down when released.
    Ben Coxworth July 03, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • Drug companies are experimenting with other approaches called MRGPRX2 blockers that target the pathway Kaplan’s team linked to scratching.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Best Wrinkle-free Top Deals From fluttery blouses to crisp button-downs, nearly every top style is on sale for Prime Day—and many of them are resistant to wrinkling, even in your suitcase.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
  • Dryer sheets soften and release wrinkles in fabrics that are prone to wrinkling, such as cotton and linen.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Showed toughness by gritting through ankle and knee injuries in the Final Four and title game.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 June 2026
  • When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed.
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scrunching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrunching. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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