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as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
her voice was scratchy from a cold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scratchy
Because flax fibers are rougher than cotton, some find linen bedsheets a bit scratchy.
—
Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
Allergies are typically marked by itchy, watery eyes, scratchy throat, sneezing, running nose and a cough.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
By Kathleen Felton For The Washington Post Woke up to a sore, scratchy throat?
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
If your current towels are limp, scratchy, or just plain uninspired, Quince’s Turkish Classic Bath towels are an instant bathroom upgrade.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
Allergies are typically marked by itchy, watery eyes, scratchy throat, sneezing, running nose and a cough.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
By Kathleen Felton For The Washington Post Woke up to a sore, scratchy throat?
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
If your current towels are limp, scratchy, or just plain uninspired, Quince’s Turkish Classic Bath towels are an instant bathroom upgrade.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scratchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scratchy
Adjective
-
These handheld masterpieces may come with jagged edges and some discrepancy in hole size, but the flavor and texture are perfect every time.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Located in Jackson Hole, this serene landscape is home to glistening lakes, jagged terrain, and beautiful moose, mule deer, bison, and elk.—
Giovanna Caravetta,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Rubbing alcohol isn’t corrosive to metals, doesn’t stain clothes, and doesn’t cause the same irritating fumes as working with bleach does.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The hypoallergenic face serum is free from potentially irritating ingredients, such as parabens and synthetic fragrances, too.—
Lauren Taylor,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
One of them, fist raised to the sky, let out a long yell, the hoarse shout of a gold panner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
November 17, 2025 What To Know During an Oval Office meeting focused primarily on preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Trump sounded hoarse when speaking with reporters and officials.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The rise of hypereffective weight-loss drugs has also raised some important—and thorny—ethical questions.—
Bethany Brookshire,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
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In a jean jacket and black dress, Savannah Guthrie walked through prickly pear cactus fields, even pausing to poke the thorny plants.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The characters are well developed and unpredictable—perhaps none more so than John Stone, Nasir’s gruff public-defense attorney.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Also present was the gruff playwright.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Trapped in a prickly relationship with a cactus, his life changes overnight when Swift sprays herself with Opalite and is magically transported into his living room.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Surrounded by vast desert, the long and windy road that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills is dotted with prickly cacti and attractive houses.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The team can help plan reindeer and husky rides, reindeer farm visits, snowmobiles tours across the area’s fells and taiga forests, or Aurora-chasing tours, guided by local experts.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
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Something had pulled it out of the tree, breaking off the husky limb on which it was tied.—
William J. McRae,
Outdoor Life,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scratchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scratchy. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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