How to Use scum in a Sentence

scum

noun
  • Boil the chicken and use a spoon to remove any scum that floats to the surface.
  • Bring to a boil and skim off the scum that rises to the top.
    — Stanley Tucci, The Atlantic, 15 May 2020
  • Add a grate or screen to your sinks to trap hair and soap scum.
    — Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2022
  • Bathrooms Soap scum and mildew are some of the worst (and grossest) things to get rid of.
    — NBC News, 18 Dec. 2017
  • Rinse to wash away germs, mold, water spots, and soap scum.
    — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2023
  • Using a ladle, skim off the scum from the top of the brodo and discard.
    — CBS News, 28 Sep. 2019
  • Who wants to spend two hours on a Friday night being told he or she is the scum of the earth?
    — OregonLive.com, 16 Jan. 2018
  • This will get rid of soap scum, limescale, calcium, and rust.
    — Chris Hachey, BGR, 8 June 2021
  • Bring to a simmer, skim the scum, then simmer for 30 minutes.
    — Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 June 2018
  • Bring to a boil over high heat and cook about 2 minutes, until the scum is released.
    — Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, 6 Nov. 2020
  • There's also a shield on the glass that repels water, soap, scum, and grime.
    — Monica Mercuri, House Beautiful, 3 Sep. 2021
  • If a scum has formed, don’t worry; just ladle it from the top of the liquid and wash and replace the plate and jar.
    — Bill St. John, The Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2020
  • God knows we media scum have tried to find, and or create, Tiger's equal.
    — Mac Engel, star-telegram, 2 Apr. 2018
  • The blooms can produce a foam, scum or thick layers on the surface of the water that can look and smell bad.
    — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2019
  • Scrubbing soap scum from tiles and tubs can feel like a full-body workout.
    — Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2023
  • In his mind, the wealthy are the real victims, preyed upon by the scum-by-birth beneath them.
    — Sara Netzley, EW.com, 9 Feb. 2023
  • Bathroom Cleaner Don’t let soap scum and mildew stains get the best of your bathroom.
    — NBC News, 31 Mar. 2018
  • Bring to a boil, uncovered, and skim off any scum that rises to the surface.
    — Meghann Foye, Redbook, 15 Mar. 2013
  • Bits of litter floated atop scum on a pond where people used to kayak and fish.
    — New York Times, 28 May 2022
  • Nurses tried to clean them up, scrubbing the black scum from patients’ skin with kerosene, but many took a turn for the worse.
    — Jennet Conant, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Aug. 2020
  • That is gun control that does not affect all of us, just the nuts like this recent scum ball.
    — Fox News, 20 May 2018
  • Sometimes the algae look like grains of floating green sand or scum.
    — Christine Hauser, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2019
  • Use a ladle or skimmer to remove any scum that rises to the top.
    — Charles Lam, NBC News, 11 May 2017
  • Usually, slow bathroom drains are caused by a buildup of hair and soap scum.
    — New York Times, 5 Dec. 2020
  • Every summer, pea-soup algae scum chokes more ponds and lakes around the world.
    — Ruth Kassinger, BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2019
  • The bounty hunter is there, there’s a general hive of scum and villainy vibe.
    — Angela Watercutter, Wired, 20 Feb. 2020
  • Spraying it on your shower door and walls will help remove soap scum and lime buildup.
    — Andrea Crowley, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2022
  • Rather than cleaning your countertops to get rid of soap scum and stains from hard water, these coasters maintain a fresh, clean look every day.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Shower Doors Glass shower doors can build up with soap scum and hard water stains over time.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 Jan. 2026
  • Bathroom From tackling soap scum to limescale and water spots, lemon juice works wonders.
    — Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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