1
as in scrapes
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 shuffles
to move heavily or clumsily
the miners scuffed past in heavy boots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of scuffs
Liam Tharme, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
Liverpool are fortunate that Marcus Tavernier scuffs his shot straight at Alisson.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffs
Verb
-
Light scratches in just the poly can be remedied with a 'restoring' product like Rejuvenate.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
-
An elevator pitch barely scratches the surface.—
Gina Riley,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Because global air travel shuffles millions of people around the world daily, an outbreak of a very contagious disease anywhere can become a threat everywhere.—
Amy E. Stambach,
The Conversation,
12 Aug. 2025
-
With Noni Madueke doubled up on out wide, Zubimendi shuffles backwards to receive the pass, and then fires a pass into Martin Odegaard, breaking the first two lines of the opposition’s 4-4-2 defensive block.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Inside the Sámi church, centuries-old wood creaks under candlelight—while at Nutti Sámi Siida (a reindeer lodge offering traditional Sámi experiences), visitors sip warm lingonberry juice and listen to joik songs.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The spiral layer also provides a deeper exfoliation that scrapes off dead cells, resulting in smoother, silkier skin.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Aug. 2025
-
The awfulness of it scrapes my veins, turning everything orange and raw.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The dejected actor stumbles over to a marketplace to buy a drink, shoplift a lighter, and strike out with a lottery ticket.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Every founder stumbles—some in a very public fashion.—
Samantha Reynolds,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The guy just f****** stomps right on my face.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffs. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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