scuffing

verb

present participle of scuff
1
as in scratching
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily the miners scuffed past in heavy boots

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scuffing Bootleg’s production deepens the sense of mystery, cranking the reverb and scuffing the surfaces. — Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 22 July 2026 Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026 Valverde also had a decent chance in August away at Oviedo, when running through on goal on the break and scuffing a shot against the outside of the post. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026 The slate coasters feature little pads to keep the smooth, rock material from scuffing your table. — Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025 Remove shoes while in the house to avoid scuffing up baseboards and floors. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025 Keep shoes in separate bags Avoid scuffing trainers or damaging heels in your suitcase by packing them in shoe bags. — Lauren Burvill, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffing
  1. scratching
  2. shuffling
  3. scraping
  4. stomping
  5. stumbling
Verb
  • Perhaps that’s just a tactic of a contender behind in the polls and scratching away to be the first Republican to lead California since Arnold Schwarzenegger.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Baking soda’s mild abrasiveness helps scrub away light stains and grime without scratching your toilet bowl’s porcelain.
    — Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of scratching
Verb
  • At the end of all that immersiveness, exiting out onto the physical street to join the crowds of shuffling tourists and fend off sullen Elmos makes Times Square feel like the soul of authenticity.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
  • An offseason filled with roster shuffling continued Tuesday for the Charlotte Hornets, who completed a three-player deal with Atlanta to land another guard with perimeter shooting potential.
    — Staff reports, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • There is Adnan, steadily and unhesitatingly marking up pages in ink, or scraping pigment onto canvases with a palette knife, creating simplified, color-rich forms drawn from nature and memory.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Add the shrimp mixture, scraping all of the seasoning from the bowl into the pan, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes, just until the shrimp turns opaque and curls into a C-shape.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of scraping
Verb
  • Handclaps, stomping percussion and a communal chorus create the kind of infectious energy that naturally gets people moving.
    — qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The clip then pans to a warm fire, and someone, presumably Meghan, stomping in rain boots in the mud.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of stomping
Verb
  • One of my favorite projects involved walking across the largest city in the Lower 48, only with the general framework of a plan, stumbling upon all kinds of interesting people, places and history.
    — Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Ian informs the sisters that Kylie isn’t merely stumbling into arcane rituals; someone is drawing her to the dark side.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of stumbling

Browse Nearby Words

scuffed (up)
scuffing
scuffing (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scuffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffing. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of regimen

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All