1
as in climbing
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling
the toddler scrambled up the stairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
scrambled the letters of the word
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrambling
San Francisco public schools shut down on Monday as teachers went on strike demanding improved healthcare benefits and pay raises, leaving the families of some 50,000 students scrambling for child care and meals.
—
Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The world’s wealthiest nations are scrambling for access to metals and minerals buried underground in Africa in order to safeguard their economic and geostrategic interests, from gold to protect against Washington’s erratic trade policies to copper needed for the AI boom.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Lawyers spent the weekend scrambling with the sudden notices.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Darnold’s already shown maximum resolve by scrambling his way off the ash heap of underachievement history, where the likes of Zach Wilson, Josh Rosen and Johnny Manziel all reside.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Rumors that celebrities were using the drugs for cosmetic reasons sparked a mix of outrage and envy, and as Americans of more humble means began to see the results the drugs could bring about, many began scrambling for cheaper sources—a perfect opportunity for Hims & Hers and its peers.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Families — many of whom moved to Connecticut as domestic refugees from hostile states — were left scrambling for care.
—Matthew Blinstrubas, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
The Food and Drug Administration could approve the first prescription psychedelic therapy as early as this year, and state lawmakers are scrambling to ensure Coloradans will be able to access it immediately.
—Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, high schools are scrambling to determine how to teach students about AI and whether kids should be allowed to use it for their studies.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The world’s wealthiest nations are scrambling for access to metals and minerals buried underground in Africa in order to safeguard their economic and geostrategic interests, from gold to protect against Washington’s erratic trade policies to copper needed for the AI boom.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Lawyers spent the weekend scrambling with the sudden notices.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Darnold’s already shown maximum resolve by scrambling his way off the ash heap of underachievement history, where the likes of Zach Wilson, Josh Rosen and Johnny Manziel all reside.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Rumors that celebrities were using the drugs for cosmetic reasons sparked a mix of outrage and envy, and as Americans of more humble means began to see the results the drugs could bring about, many began scrambling for cheaper sources—a perfect opportunity for Hims & Hers and its peers.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Families — many of whom moved to Connecticut as domestic refugees from hostile states — were left scrambling for care.
—Matthew Blinstrubas, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
The Food and Drug Administration could approve the first prescription psychedelic therapy as early as this year, and state lawmakers are scrambling to ensure Coloradans will be able to access it immediately.
—Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, high schools are scrambling to determine how to teach students about AI and whether kids should be allowed to use it for their studies.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrambling
Verb
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But with no set end date, some workers stay for years, climbing the ranks.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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The stock bounced back some last year, climbing 19%, and is now up 6% in 2026.—
Kristina Partsinevelos,Ari Levy,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While Andreessen saw software disrupting industries, Morgan Stanley sees AI disrupting labor itself.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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Want to know more about how AI is disrupting Hollywood?—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The piece is a collection of disused shoemaker boxes, once used by cobblers to keep tools, pressed against each other and stacked up, clambering toward the ceiling.—
Edna Bonhomme,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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By the end of the night, so many fans had crowd-surfed from the pit to the stage, clambering onto the platform, that the band members were barely visible.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bridgerton treats it as though every woman got multiples of their yearbook photo to hand around as headshots, and Benedict’s taking what would have been treasured personal heirlooms and just shuffling through them and tossing out anyone with the wrong hair color.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
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Silvia showed them little affection or attention, shuffling quickly through the infants to feed, change, or hold them.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The citizens of Texas are confusing hospitality for complacency.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Registration deadlines, confusing rules and inconsistent access make participation harder at the very moment young people become eligible to vote.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The documents, which are unclassified FBI and Department of Homeland Security intelligence reports, provide disturbing new insights into the growing problem – and also illustrate law enforcement’s struggle to crack down on the decentralized movement.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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With their special technology, the cameras can take high-quality videos of animals at night without disturbing them.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrambling. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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