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Recent Examples of scratches
Michele Heisler, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
Forwards Pavol Regenda, Jeff Skinner, and defenseman Sam Dickinson will be the healthy scratches.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Give the gift of warmth with these stoneware mugs that are finished with a vibrant glaze that's easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and resistant to chips, scratches, and stains.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
All of them are covered in scratches at different stages of bleeding or not bleeding.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Anyone planning to capture the invasive species should wear protective gloves, pants and long sleeves to guard against scratches.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
The tabletop sits on a sturdy cross-shaped base and resists scratches and stains.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2026
Say goodbye to red sauce stains that feel impossible to remove, cracks and scratches that make plastic unsafe to use, and containers that never fully dry in the dishwasher.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
Blood was also around his nose and mouth, and scratches.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Article’s Torme desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
At 79, nothing scratches his adrenaline itch like hopping on board a boat with three skates and no brakes.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Upon inspection one evening, the father discovered scratches all over the bottom of the pair.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
And even though All the Little Houses is set in the ’80s, complete with Laura Ashley dresses and Jazzercise references, the novel scratches a thoroughly modern itch for real access to the inner lives of the kinds of alpha women who swarm our social media feeds.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
And this only scratches the surface—true economic impact stands to be even higher when considering what future scientific breakthroughs could achieve.
—Bob Sternfels, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
The Instagram post includes pictures of Nichole with a bruised lip, leg and arm and scratches on her face, shoulder and cleavage.
—Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Gratitude hardly scratches the surface.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Chemical irritants affect the eyes, skin and lungs first, causing scratches to the surface of the eye, painful skin reactions, breathing difficulties and acute psychological distress.
—Michele Heisler, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
Forwards Pavol Regenda, Jeff Skinner, and defenseman Sam Dickinson will be the healthy scratches.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
Give the gift of warmth with these stoneware mugs that are finished with a vibrant glaze that's easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and resistant to chips, scratches, and stains.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
All of them are covered in scratches at different stages of bleeding or not bleeding.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Anyone planning to capture the invasive species should wear protective gloves, pants and long sleeves to guard against scratches.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
The tabletop sits on a sturdy cross-shaped base and resists scratches and stains.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2026
Say goodbye to red sauce stains that feel impossible to remove, cracks and scratches that make plastic unsafe to use, and containers that never fully dry in the dishwasher.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
Blood was also around his nose and mouth, and scratches.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Light scratches in just the poly can be remedied with a 'restoring' product like Rejuvenate.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Article’s Torme desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
At 79, nothing scratches his adrenaline itch like hopping on board a boat with three skates and no brakes.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Upon inspection one evening, the father discovered scratches all over the bottom of the pair.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
And even though All the Little Houses is set in the ’80s, complete with Laura Ashley dresses and Jazzercise references, the novel scratches a thoroughly modern itch for real access to the inner lives of the kinds of alpha women who swarm our social media feeds.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
And this only scratches the surface—true economic impact stands to be even higher when considering what future scientific breakthroughs could achieve.
—Bob Sternfels, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
The Instagram post includes pictures of Nichole with a bruised lip, leg and arm and scratches on her face, shoulder and cleavage.
—Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Gratitude hardly scratches the surface.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratches
Noun
-
The struggle left several agents with bite wounds, scrapes and bruises that required medical treatment.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Fortunately, the children have a lot of bruises, scrapes and cuts, all stuff that is easily managed.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This might happen because antler rubs strip bark away, revealing lignin-rich inner wood that reemits the longer wavelengths in a way bark does not.—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, including schoolteacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer).—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Inside the Sámi church, centuries-old wood creaks under candlelight—while at Nutti Sámi Siida (a reindeer lodge offering traditional Sámi experiences), visitors sip warm lingonberry juice and listen to joik songs.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Hope scrawls a single word on the paper and folds it up.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scratches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratches. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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