1
as in crumpled
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
scrunched up the shirt and tossed it in the laundry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrunched
Reduce frizz, add shine, and offer your curls a soft, flexible hold with Bumble and Bumble's Curl Defining Styling Cream, which should be scrunched into wet hair from mid-shaft to ends before air drying or diffusing.
—
Lily Wohlner, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
James then scrunched his face into a sarcastic, close-eyed smile.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
This faux leather style features an elegant, rounded collar and scrunched sleeves that together create a bold, endlessly versatile piece that can be thrown over a dress and knee-high boots for an afternoon brunch, or paired with denim and sneakers for a day of exploring.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Dries Van Noten wrapped a denim trench coat in a colorful, tapestry-like belts, scrunched baggy jeans into shin-grazing boots and added a bomber-style collar to a denim blazer.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
Talayah Walker scrunched her eyebrows at the podium when Georgia Tech coach Karen Blair mentioned — in a complimentary way — that her star sophomore had committed only one turnover Sunday.
—Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Late in the third quarter, Buzelis turned away from the basket and scrunched up his face in a grimace of disgust.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Fatigue is just part of the deal this season with the schedule scrunched up because of the Olympics.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Unlike a typical golden, her dog sports an underbite and scrunched nose, giving her a uniquely charming expression.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
Lily Wohlner, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
James then scrunched his face into a sarcastic, close-eyed smile.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
This faux leather style features an elegant, rounded collar and scrunched sleeves that together create a bold, endlessly versatile piece that can be thrown over a dress and knee-high boots for an afternoon brunch, or paired with denim and sneakers for a day of exploring.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Dries Van Noten wrapped a denim trench coat in a colorful, tapestry-like belts, scrunched baggy jeans into shin-grazing boots and added a bomber-style collar to a denim blazer.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
Talayah Walker scrunched her eyebrows at the podium when Georgia Tech coach Karen Blair mentioned — in a complimentary way — that her star sophomore had committed only one turnover Sunday.
—Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Late in the third quarter, Buzelis turned away from the basket and scrunched up his face in a grimace of disgust.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Fatigue is just part of the deal this season with the schedule scrunched up because of the Olympics.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Unlike a typical golden, her dog sports an underbite and scrunched nose, giving her a uniquely charming expression.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrunched
Verb
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The injury occurred on a breakaway in Dallas last Monday, leaving Moody crumpled on the floor and requiring a stretcher.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Boz just towers over her, is confident and assured as always, and Rachel is all crumpled up and just wants to get out of there.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When The Times connected with Reyes, she was crouched down backstage at the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College in the Bronx.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
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Jones’ wife Marie came out to the mound for the first pitch with daughters Jami and Staci, who threw the ball to Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman crouched behind the plate.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your dinner plates will be scraped clean even faster, ready for seconds.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Max Scherzer looks sharp, feels fresh Max Scherzer scraped his cleats on the back of the Minnesota Twins’ spring mound before stepping in for his first pitch on Friday.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News, two other media brands that also chronicled the television business for decades, folded in 2024.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Within the casket was a dog, an old slipper folded in its paws.—
Jennie Key,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Molly was huddled underneath the waterfall, just a few meters from the rocky spot where her owner had fallen.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
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The clip showed Molly huddled and shivering near the rocks before a rescuer grabbed her.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the Olympic debutant gritted her teeth and tried to forget about her throbbing, bruised knee.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
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The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Westlake graduate missed just one game earlier this season but gritted his way through an undisclosed injury.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bad potatoes might be mushy, bruised, wrinkled, moldy, or green.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
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Minutes stretched into hours as Evelyn focused on ensuring her wedding ring didn't slip off her fingers, now waterlogged and wrinkled.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ace right-hander Jacob deGrom, making his first start of the season after being scratched Saturday with a neck injury, cruised through the first four innings and almost made if out of the fifth, but Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run double to tie the game at 3.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Red Sox played without catcher Carlos Narváez after he was scratched from the lineup Wednesday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrunched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrunched. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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