scratched

verb

past tense of scratch
1
as in scraped
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface scratched his arm on a branch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grated
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the branches of the willow tree scratch against the windowpane whenever the wind blows

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scribbled
to write or draw hastily or carelessly scratched a quick doodle in the margins

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 scratched That eventually led to him getting healthy scratched a few times, even in the playoffs. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 27 June 2026 Similar to Teflon, ceramic pans can get scratched. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 June 2026 Carlson has spoken of his own brush with demonic forces, who left him bloodied and scratched in the night, while his wife and their four spaniels slept undisturbed. — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Normal mice scratched and inflammatory immune cells rushed to the site, increasing swelling. — ABC News, 27 June 2026 Casey Schmitt was scratched from Sunday’s starting lineup due to an illness, but entered the game for the ailing Adames. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 June 2026 New York scratched across two more runs in the 10th, taking advantage of another throwing error by Abreu after Rosario's sinking liner squirted out of his glove for an RBI single. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 28 June 2026 The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department advised anyone bitten or scratched by a bat or other wild animal to promptly clean the wound with soap and water, then contact a physician or go to the emergency room. — Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026 There’s the obvious joy of indulging in French cuisine at every craving’s whim, from world-class pastries to bistro classics, but for Architectural Digest’s global director of audience development, Pujah Shah, that just scratched the surface of the many in-destination babymoon perks. — Lara Kramer, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratched
  1. scraped
  2. grated
  3. scribbled
  4. scrawled
Verb
  • As the scribes’ pens scraped the parchment, the words became inscribed upon their soul.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • When a user asked boat-botany why New Reddit isn’t scraped as often as Old Reddit, the Reddit employee pointed to a comment by another user.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026
Definition of scraped
Verb
  • Comté cheese, coarsely grated, to béchamel and stir until melted and combined.
    — Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Rollins grated Breakker’s face against the steel cage as Bron collapsed.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of grated
Verb
  • Her Eras Tour, the really beautiful white gown with her lyrics that were scribbled across the dress that was custom Vivienne.
    — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Abraham Lincoln furiously scribbled in Springfield on June 27, 1858, firing off a gruff note to the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Press & Tribune, then in business for only 11 years.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Definition of scribbled
Verb
  • Pinned to their random assortment of hats were scrawled, handmade signs proclaiming liberty or death.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • On the wall across the bar are autographs of former USMNT greats, scrawled inside a mighty shield.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 2 July 2026
Definition of scrawled

Browse Nearby Words

scratch
scratched
scratched (out)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scratched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratched. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on scratched

Nglish: Translation of scratched for Spanish Speakers

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 gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

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
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All