SCRATCHING Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

scratching 1 of 2

adjective

as in metallic

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Dissimilar Words

as in jagged

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Dissimilar Words

scratching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scratch

as in scraping

to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface scratched his arm on a branch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rubbing

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

as in scribbling

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 scratching

Verb

Lee is forever grunting and scratching and clearing his throat. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 People are advised to watch for signs of rodent activity including droppings, gnaw marks, scratching or scurrying sounds and rub marks along baseboards or around entry points. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado updated October 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Test the plant’s health by lightly scratching the woody stems—healthy tissue beneath the bark will typically look green. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 Oct. 2026 Well, then the sound of television writer Joe Wiseman clearing his throat over and over again might as well be Gilbert Gottfried’s laugh scratching against a chalkboard. — Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 That tale of two vaccines has experts scratching their heads. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026 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 The best snacks have proven staying power, scratching every sweet, salty itch time and time again. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching

Adjective

Percussion is at the forefront of the mix, with microscopic pinpricks in lieu of hi-hats and lots of keylike metallic jangling run through sheets of echo.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
The shoes featured a stiletto heel with lace-up detailing around the ankle and glimmered slightly with a dramatic metallic finish that elevated the entire look.

— Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of metallic

Adjective

The latter is more demanding, but might have the best views of those jagged, majestic Dolomites in the region.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Once fished to the brink of extinction globally, sand tiger sharks, that iconic aquarium shark with a jaw of protruding, jagged teeth that only a mother could love, have been increasing in the Boston Harbor over the last decade.

— Asia London Palomba, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of jagged

Verb

Startup Hamlet has parsed tens of thousands of city council meetings by scraping local governments’ video recordings, tagging comments as friendly or hostile to a potential project.

— J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Writers can upload a script and receive back a copy that is resistant to AI analysis, scraping and training.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of scraping

Verb

Oh, and a pad from an HTC Vive, because nobody wants the sharp edges of layered plastic extruded from a 3D printer rubbing against their face.

— Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Some of the more envelope-pushing moments, including an extended scene of nuns ripping off their habits and rubbing themselves on a life-sized crucifix, were in the script.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of rubbing

Verb

His father, Bongo, recorded with artists on Houston label Swishahouse, while Toliver began scribbling rhymes in school notebooks and making rudimentary recordings through a PlayStation microphone.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
The gesture sets off a chain reaction, as a parade of strangers begins scribbling their own complaints, anxieties and grudges across the same tiles.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of scribbling

Adjective

With a soprano voice that’s sharp but never shrill, O’Donovan can levitate a heartfelt melody over just about any kind of accompaniment.

— Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
When Caleb Hammer, a thirty-one-year-old personal-finance YouTuber, gets particularly exasperated, his voice enters a shrill upper register.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of shrill

Verb

Now the former child phenom is accused of picking up a permanent marker and scrawling antisemitic graffiti on Southern California homes, according to authorities.

— Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, setting fire to two mosques and scrawling graffiti on buildings, Palestinian officials said.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026