SCRAP Synonyms: 390 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'scrap' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of scrap are cast , discard , junk , shed , and slough . While all these words mean "to get rid of," scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form. // scrap all the old ways // would junk our educational system

Q: When can 'cast' be used instead of 'scrap'?

In some situations, the words cast and scrap are roughly equivalent. However, cast , especially when used with off, away , or out , implies a forceful rejection or repudiation. // cast off her friends

Q: When could 'discard' be used to replace 'scrap'?

While the synonyms discard and scrap are close in meaning, discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless. // discard old clothes

Q: How are the words 'shed' and 'slough' related as synonyms of 'scrap'?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster. // shed a bad habit // finally sloughed off the depression

scrap 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskrap

Definition of scrap

as in remainder

an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value only a scrap of silk was left on the sewing table after they had finished the project

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whole

as in fragment

a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete a scrap of paper fluttered to the floor

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as in speck

a very small piece brushed away a scrap of lint

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as in garbage

discarded or useless material the rest of this stuff is just scrap, so sweep it up and throw it away

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scrap

2 of 4

noun (2)

as in dispute

an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions the state legislature's annual scrap over the budget

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as in fight

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups several drunken revelers were involved in a scrap outside of the nightclub

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truce

scrap

3 of 4

verb (1)

as in to bicker

to express different opinions about something often angrily the young couple often scrapped about money and their very disparate spending habits

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scrap

4 of 4

verb (2)

as in to dump

to get rid of as useless or unwanted we've decided to scrap the second car

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to abandon

to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) we scrapped our plans to go to Paris, and set out the next day for Prague

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word scrap different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of scrap are cast, discard, junk, shed, and slough. While all these words mean "to get rid of," scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways

would junk our educational system

When can cast be used instead of scrap?

In some situations, the words cast and scrap are roughly equivalent. However, cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

When could discard be used to replace scrap?

While the synonyms discard and scrap are close in meaning, discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

How are the words shed and slough related as synonyms of scrap?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit

finally sloughed off the depression

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 scrap

Noun

Blanding hops in and out of the truck, grabbing buckets of food scraps from porches and restaurants, piling those scraps into bins in the truck bed and driving them to a composting site. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 But his script, co-written with regular collaborator Jack Coulter, is less impressive, welding together story scraps from other, better films to rather turbid, uninvolving effect. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Verb

The talks come as Paz faces protests over his decision to scrap fuel subsidies in a country that once exported natural gas to its neighbors but now struggles with fuel shortages and declining hydrocarbon production. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 In 2025, realizing the existing Siri couldn’t grow into the AI era, the company scrapped it in favor of another version that had been two-tracked. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scrap

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrap

Noun

The agreement would provide Warner's daughter with the majority remainder of the Warner Family Trust and estate but remains subject to court approval, Pamela Warner's attorneys said.

— Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Former Stars coach Lorne Donaldson also will rejoin the team as interim director of coaching for remainder of the year.

— Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of remainder

Noun

The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.

— Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of speck

Noun

Prosecutors said Aurora was one of seven children, ages 2 months to 17 years, who lived in an east San José house on Lancelot Lane that was filled with cockroaches, pet feces, garbage and mold.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Clean your car full of garbage elsewhere and don’t hold up a line of customers.

— Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

Several other important artifacts of Mexica origin that have been part of repatriation disputes are also currently housed at the Weltmuseum.

— News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026
The dispute emerged as a rare point of overt contention in last week’s bankruptcy hearing, which was dominated by the news that golfer Jon Rahm would be parting ways with the LIV Golf.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of dispute

Noun

Russia's heavy bombardment of the power grid ahead of winter has been an annual feature of the war, aimed at wearing down Ukraine's appetite for the fight by denying civilians heat and running water.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Russia’s heavy bombardment of the power grid ahead of winter has been an annual feature of the war, aimed at wearing down Ukraine’s appetite for the fight by denying civilians heat and running water.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of fight

Verb

The two of them together, just 17 months apart, shared playlists, bickered over where to stop during Apple CarPlay calls, pulled up beside me and faded away with silly faces, encapsulating 20 years of my life in my rearview mirror.

— Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of bicker

Verb

Analysts are perking up about CoreWeave, even though investors are dumping shares and interest rates are rising in the economy.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Republicans have dumped hundreds of millions into the race to support Paxton, even as there have been leaks of audio clips of Paxton appearing to disparage national involvement in the race.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dump

Browse Nearby Words

scrams

scrap

scrapbook

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Scrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrap. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of scrap

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