as in to scrap
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
the outdoor art project was scrubbed when the organizers found out they needed permission from city hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in toy
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind
that scrub of a mutt turned out to be the smartest dog we ever had
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 scrub
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
The lemon juice helps cut through grease, while the baking soda is mildly abrasive and helps scrub everything away.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 25 Jan. 2026
Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The world outside Silo residents have little idea what's outside, because their video feed shows nothing but scrub, dead trees, and the corpses of deceased cleaners — everything else is obscured by the incline strategically placed around the entrance to the bunker.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrub
Verb
This is done by scrubbing the feeder and its parts with mind soap and water, then soaking it in a diluted bleach solution.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
The lemon juice helps cut through grease, while the baking soda is mildly abrasive and helps scrub everything away.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
The person examining you is wearing a white coat or scrubs and a stethoscope but could be a physician assistant.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
The world outside Silo residents have little idea what's outside, because their video feed shows nothing but scrub, dead trees, and the corpses of deceased cleaners — everything else is obscured by the incline strategically placed around the entrance to the bunker.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrub
Verb
-
Perhaps there was no better response than scrapping through a 3-2 win over defending Div.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Also, when Camp Century was decommissioned around five years after Project Iceworm was scrapped, the Army left hazardous waste behind, such as up to 52,000 gallons of diesel and radioactive materials, residues from the small nuclear reactor that had powered the base.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Why not put pretend stethoscopes and pill bottles into the boxes and sell them as toy doctor’s kits?—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Pinto’s mom has a little area that would otherwise be a dining space defined by an area rug, with pull out storage bins, another toy kitchen and a little table and chairs.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To avoid this, cancel and sign in to YouTube on your computer.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
-
China retaliated by canceling flights, restricting imports of Japanese seafood and ramping up military patrols, among other measures.—
Yumi Asada,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hardy in Zones 8a-10b, a dwarf olive grows no more than 15 feet tall.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Look for dwarf pea varieties that don’t necessarily seek extra support and may perform better in containers.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One is that OpenAI’s board has apparently abandoned its mission of safety.—
Alnoor Ebrahim,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The tech mogul, who helped found OpenAI, sued Altman and the company in 2024, accusing them of abandoning the firm’s founding values and manipulating him into investing in the ChatGPT maker.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While the Olympics doesn't specify which city Tina lives in, her name is a diminutive for Cortina, one of the cities co-hosting the Winter Olympics.—
Aliza Chasan,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
By contrast, Naroditsky, who went by Danya, the Russian diminutive of his first name, was known for his gentleness, his sensitivity.—
Jordan Himelfarb,
Time,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In addition, the California Department of Public Health revoked the licenses of more than 280 hospices over the past two years and has identified about 300 more hospices under review for possible license revocation, according to the governor’s office.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The city closed Maht Gaek and revoked the establishment’s health permit until the violations could be corrected and a follow-up inspection conducted.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In a statement, Executive Director Tyler Stiles said the board itself has taken a neutral stance on previous legislative attempts to repeal the laws.—
Dale Denwalt,
Oklahoman,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Less than a month later, according to the New York Times, the administration stopped defending the rule in court, then repealed it altogether.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrub. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
