SCRAPES Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

scrapes 1 of 2

noun

plural of scrape

as in encounters

a brief clash between enemies or rivals he's had his share of scrapes with the law in the past

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in scratches

a harsh grating sound the scrape of a shovel on concrete

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as in bruises

an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface scrapes that were caused by a too-tight harness

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scrapes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scrape

as in rubs

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the rusty old gate scrapes against the pavement whenever anyone opens it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grazes

to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface she scraped her knee when she fell down

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grits

to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound she scraped her fingernails across the chalkboard to get everyone's attention

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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 scrapes

Noun

They were released after they were treated at medical facilities for scrapes, cuts, dehydration and exhaustion over the weekend, State Police Lt. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026 Early books—classics in their day—on whitetail deer never mentioned scrapes. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026 Vibrio vulnificus can enter the body through unhealed cuts and scrapes, recent piercings and tattoos, and recent surgical incisions. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 Prevention tips Health officials caution against entering warm saltwater or brackish water if any fresh cuts, scrapes or wounds are present. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Those tiny scrapes and scratches harbor nearly impossible-to-remove dirt. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026 That includes recent surgical sites, fresh tattoos and piercings, and even minor cuts or scrapes. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Necrotizing fasciitis can be contracted when bacteria that thrives in warm, brackish waters enters the body through open cuts, scrapes, burns or other puncture wounds, or by eating raw or undercooked shellfish. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 The agency also recommends those at higher risk for infection wear water shoes or clothes in coastal water to prevent cuts and scrapes. — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2026

Verb

People should immediately wash cuts and scrapes thoroughly with soap and clean running water after coming in contact with coastal waters or raw seafood, the CDC said. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 The tool scrapes third-party sources to compile additional information and context about individual tracks. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026 Her older brother, 9-year-old Charlie, climbs across the nearby jungle gym at a Prairie Village playground as her younger brother, 3-year-old Will, scrapes a stick through the mulch. — Anna Spoerre, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery. — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026 The structured silhouette and clean lines feel refined without being flashy, while the durable leather withstands scrapes from branches and changing weather. — Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026 To show me, Max reaches a metal pick into a tank of clear water and scrapes a white line that seems to hover in the center of the tank. — Blair Braverman, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026 Meyer helped design a tracking system that scrapes data from Zillow to detect price hikes greater than 10%. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026 Kgasi makes his way down to one of the vertical surfaces of the pit and scrapes it gently. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrapes

Noun

For the newest campaign, Belle stars in a series of New York scenes — ranging from late-night taxi rides to chance sidewalk encounters to phone booth conversations — in which the right pair of shoes has the power to change everything.

— Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 17 Aug. 2026
In Mesa County, which includes Grand Junction, residents have reported 308 bear encounters, up from just 33 in 2025.

— Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of encounters

Noun

In the arrest affidavit, Ted Barnett told investigators that the scratches on his body were from an Ultimate Frisbee tournament that happened the previous weekend.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
According to Matthews, dust can be abrasive, and wood can be very sensitive to scratches.

— Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of scratches

Noun

When the teenage Elia Gheorghiu turns up at school with bruises on her body, the community asks itself if the traditional education the children receive from their parents might have anything to do with it.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Upon arrival, police found 37-year-old Destiny Dunn deceased with bruises on her body, including her neck and face, and her eyelids were swollen and discolored, according to court documents.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2026