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

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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

There are different types of algae scrapers for both glass and acrylic fish tanks, so choose accordingly to avoid scratching or damaging the aquarium. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, for those of us steeped in the tech field, there is quite a bit of head scratching going on. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The poor offensive production spoiled a night when the Angels got good enough pitching, despite scratching Soriano. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2026 The Tigers took a precautionary measure today with another of their trade candidates, right-hander Casey Mize, scratching him from his start and going with a bullpen game instead. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Her dog barked, and Vera went to say hello, scratching the mutt between the ears. — Eric Boodman, STAT, 31 July 2026 The author, in her latest video on the falling-out with people on the project, hinted at a painful ordeal that unfolded on set, leaving fans scratching their heads and wondering what exactly happened and who was involved. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 There are many ways to safely calm an itchy bug bite without scratching. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 29 July 2026 Instagram user lucky_charmedcourt posted a series of six videos earlier this week chronicling a woman with an apparent skin condition scratching her foot. — Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratching

Adjective

The exterior of the vehicle is finished in a Manufaktur-exclusive, non-metallic hue called Light Ivory.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026
One ballerina selected from her stash a leotard whose gray velour later read as metallic silver under the studio lights during her grand adagio.

— Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of metallic

Adjective

But a little more than a minute after launch, the shuttle exploded, sending jagged plumes across the sky creating an image that would be seared into collective memory.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Unlike oyster mushrooms, however, hen of the woods have a darker brown hue and the edges of the mushrooms are more scalloped and jagged than rounded.

— Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of jagged

Verb

Bourdain was doing all of the grunt work at the Flagship, scrubbing pots and pans, scraping plates, peeling potatoes, and cleaning shrimp.

— Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
Today’s blog post further claimed that Old Reddit is leading to unwarranted content scraping.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of scraping

Verb

Jack McGrail and Aiyana Da’Briel, staff leaders for the SoLa Live Accelerator program behind the event, seemed to be everywhere at once, passing out wristbands and scribbling on clipboards.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Each time Yamamoto took the mound, his interpreter, Sonoda, sat on the dugout ledge, scribbling his own notes to help streamline Yamamoto’s process.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 June 2026

Definition of scribbling

Adjective

Amid the rumblings of construction at nearby David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the sound of a shrill whistle and chopping feet at the nearby Murfin Family Practice Fields signaled one thing.

— Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
That trademark indecision of summer takes root in her words and spreads through the music until her vocals diverge in the chorus, peeling like a clementine’s skin as one shrill line scales upward and the other remains monotone.

— Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026

Definition of shrill

Verb

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
The elder statesman Hall scrawling his signature on the Declaration was in doubt in the run-up to the first Independence Day.

— Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of scrawling

Cite this Entry

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“Scratching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratching. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scratching

adjective

verb

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