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

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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

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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 Based on a photo shared by the fan, the star appeared to have been scratched. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Dolly Parton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star was scratched days after the country singer died. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026 Worth noting Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup due to a right elbow bruise. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 It was previously listed as a potential site for the National Museum of the American Latino in 2022, but was scratched over concerns that the small exhibition space could only be expanded underground. — News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026 If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or an animal suspected to have rabies, seek medical care immediately and let your provider know about the possible exposure. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 But even the most dependable pieces eventually become too stained, scratched, or mismatched for food storage. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026 Though the reason for Marte’s initial absence remains unknown publicly — the Diamondbacks were so blindsided by it that he was scratched only minutes before Monday’s game — the team seemed eager to move on from the fiasco. — Marc Carig, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 The bear scratched his arm, and the victim tripped and injured his foot while trying to escape, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratched
  1. scraped
  2. grated
  3. scribbled
  4. scrawled
Verb
  • Together, the family scraped together $60,000 from savings and a Small Business Administration loan and opened Panda Inn in Pasadena, California, in 1973.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • He was obviously scraped and obviously dragged for a long period of time.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of scraped
Verb
  • Parmesan, finely grated (about 3 cups), 1 cup (packed) parsley leaves with tender stems, and 1 tsp.
    — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan and gouda, however, are better suited for freezing and can be grated and stored for later use.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of grated
Verb
  • However, over that time, the amounts typically scribbled or printed on the face of those checks rose.
    — Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
  • With so much data to take in, penalty ‘cheat sheets’ have started to appear on goalkeeper’s bottles and scribbled on pieces of paper.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of scribbled
Verb
  • Instead, there’s an impromptu memorial, formed from hundreds of tributes to the rapper scrawled in sharpie on poles and on the concrete.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Shelving units in the garage are tightly, but neatly, packed with containers of various items, from Nike sneakers to Cold War-era relics, labeled with a description or lot number scrawled in black marker.
    — Sarah Jackson Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrawled

Browse Nearby Words

scratch
scratched
scratched (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Scratched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratched. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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