scrabbled

verb

past tense of scrabble
1
as in climbed
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling we scrabbled up a sand dune to get a better view of the sea

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in fumbled
to search for something blindly or uncertainly he frantically scrabbled through the storage chest looking for the needed documents

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 scrabbled With the June 2 primary weeks away and many voters still undecided, candidates scrabbled for airtime and breakout moments during the chaotic 90-minute debate. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 The Eagles have scrabbled at multiple offensive schemes while leveraging the strength of their defense. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrabbled
  1. climbed
  2. fumbled
  3. scrambled
  4. looked
  5. clambered
Verb
  • The outbreak remains concentrated in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, where cases have climbed from 177 to 352.
    — Alex DeLuca, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The scouts said the object climbed quickly before appearing to disintegrate.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of climbed
Verb
  • Thomas and Woods fumbled in the first half in Spartan territory — their first of the season on 118 combined carries thus far.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • During Sunday night’s game against the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Mahomes fumbled after a big hit, and roughly 22 players had a chance to recover the ball.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of fumbled
Verb
  • Mahomes scrambled to his left and threw an awful interception in the opening half.
    — Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Willis converted two fourth downs on rushing attempts, then scrambled and embraced violent contact on a two-yard TD on third down in the waning seconds of the first half, punctuating a 15-play, 91-yard drive and putting Miami up 21-7 at the half.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of scrambled
Verb
  • Its shots weren’t falling, and its defense looked weary under Atlanta’s offensive pressure.
    — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • There were moments during the Heats’ season-opening 131-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves where the product looked sloppy, and the effort was lackluster.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of looked
Verb
  • Readers will know, of course, that Joao Palhinha bundled in a late winner at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Spurs reduced the gap to two and then clambered over West Ham in the final weeks of the season.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • People have clambered into helicopters from roof terraces and been winched up from the mud left behind by the floodwater, videos posted by the Nepali Army show.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of clambered

Browse Nearby Words

scrabble
scrabbled
scrabbles
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Cite this Entry

“Scrabbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrabbled. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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