1
as in to scratch
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface
scuffed up her shoes by rubbing her feet under the rung of the chair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
the miners scuffed past in heavy boots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scuff
PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
From Shanghai to New York, shoppers found launch-day display models—especially the deep blue Pro and black Air variants—already scuffed and scratched within hours of being unboxed.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
And as the rule of the clean girl gives way to a messier, more textured era this fall, scuff marks now act like a badge of honor.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Verb
The brand markets the ring's durability, but notes that the material can scuff from time to time.
—PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
From Shanghai to New York, shoppers found launch-day display models—especially the deep blue Pro and black Air variants—already scuffed and scratched within hours of being unboxed.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
Saffiano leather ages beautifully and is known for its resistance to scratches, stains, and scuffs.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
And as the rule of the clean girl gives way to a messier, more textured era this fall, scuff marks now act like a badge of honor.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuff
Verb
-
If large stuck-on food chunks remain, carefully scrape them off with a razor blade, being mindful not to scratch the stovetop.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Bright and spellbinding, glittering and dangerous, London Falling scratches every itch while unwinding this morbid mystery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even with my winter boots and sturdy soles, caution dictates a short stride, a shuffling gait end eyes riveted to the slippery ground.—
Thomas Cangelosi,
Hartford Courant,
4 Jan. 2026
-
First, the sophomore shuffled back into coverage after showing A-gap pressure to intercept a Bryce Underwood pass over the middle of the field, ending a key fourth-quarter drive.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Almog hears the creak of the trapdoor opening, hushed whispers, approaching footsteps.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The town’s departments are squeezed into tight quarters where the floor creaks with each step and thin walls make no conversation truly private.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Stokes, who seldom completes a five-Test series these days, had dragged his creaking, aching body through almost five full matches of hard, hot, energy-sapping cricket, like scraping butter over too much bread, but somehow soldiering on.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Restaurant staff scrape uneaten food from plates into a compost bin.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the latter stomped down the catwalk, Anok gave Gabbriette a makeshift haircut.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
27 Oct. 2025
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And the Broncos proceeded to stomp Dallas into the turf at Empower Field for four quarters Sunday in a 44-24 drubbing, their best end-to-end performance of the year.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Kirbi, that rasp is so beautiful at the top of your register.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Her strong, confident country voice shone through immediately in her performance of this Judds song, with just enough rasp to really give it some edge.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Although the discovery has only now been formally studied, cavers from the Czech Speleological Society first stumbled upon the phenomenon in 2022 during an expedition in Vromoner Canyon.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Uber reported strong growth in its third-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, but stumbled on the bottom line after absorbing a $479 million charge for what the company described as undisclosed legal and regulatory matters.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuff. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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