1
as in to scratch
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface
scuffed up her shoes by rubbing her feet under the rung of the chair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
the miners scuffed past in heavy boots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of scuff
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
1 June 2026
Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems.
—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
Normal wear and tear, such as minor scuffs, small nail holes, or ordinary carpet wear, is part of renting and generally cannot be deducted.
—
Stacker,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Verb
Then in the 93rd minute, Taylor Suarez found herself in a good spot, but her shot was scuffed as two defenders crowded her on the goal line, and Sheridan would eventually fall on the ball.
—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
1 June 2026
Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems.
—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Noun
Not only do the records feature scuff marks and price tags, but poems and doodles—as if the blankness was begging to be filled in.
—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
Normal wear and tear, such as minor scuffs, small nail holes, or ordinary carpet wear, is part of renting and generally cannot be deducted.
—
Stacker,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuff
Verb
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In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup.
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New York scratched across two more runs in the 10th, taking advantage of another throwing error by Abreu after Rosario's sinking liner squirted out of his glove for an RBI single.
Verb
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As soon as the game wrapped up, those guests shuffled out, and hours later were replaced by a rowdier group ordering shots at the bar, dancing to 2000s hits in front of the DJ booth and smoking vape pens on the outdoor patio.
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Pretoria responded to the threat of violence in June 30 protests with millions of dollars shuffled inside the police budget, tactical units deployed, and soldiers on standby.
Noun
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Prairie grasses and bonnet strings whip in the wind as the creak of wagon wheels carries across the rippling grassland.
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Iwerks worked with Bonnie Wild, a sound mixer whose credits include multiple Marvel and Star Wars projects, to piece together all of the sound from scratch — every creak of metal, every footstep and hammer, and every tractor driving across concrete.
Verb
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When a user asked boat-botany why New Reddit isn’t scraped as often as Old Reddit, the Reddit employee pointed to a comment by another user.
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Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with ⅓ cup sour cream in 2 additions (about 2½ tablespoons each), scraping down bowl as needed.
Verb
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The name Chelydra serpentina evokes colossal reptiles stomping through ancient forests.
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If anything, the dichotomy between the pop star who prances around Versailles in a sheer nightie and the pop star who stomps onstage in knee-high combat boots feels completely authentic and intentional.
Noun
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Like Dijon, svn4vr uses a dexterous, soulful rasp to fight for emotional truth from within songs that occupy shifting senses of space and bear the seams of digital assembly.
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Deep and smoky with impressive control and just a touch of Etta James rasp, Spiro’s is a voice not so much influenced by jazz legends like Winehouse or Nina Simone but rather a direct descendant.
Verb
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Scientists have stumbled on a rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica, tucked away for decades in a drawer.
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However, Portugal stumbled in its opening match, managing only a 1–1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Cite this Entry
“Scuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuff. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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