Scratch

/skɹæt͡ʃ/

Synonyms for "scratch" (661 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (133)

Noun(20 words)

abrasion mark scar scrape start abrasions assemble basic beginning blemishes boodle breadburrow markscabbage cacography cancelchicken feedclams clawing claws

ablation abort abrade abrasion abrasive adequate anamorphosis attrition autolithographbad likenessbarbouillage bark barleybe a printmakerbear downbelch bezelbird seedbirthmark blackhead

Show 88 more words

blare blat blazeblaze a trailbleb blemish blister bloody blotblot outblotch bore botch bran brand bray bread break bruise buffing bulla burlesque burnburn the midnight oilburnishing burr burrow buzz cackle canal canalize cancel caricature cartoon carve cashcaste markcasualcat foodcaw cease chafe chafing chalkchalk upchamfer channel character charcoal chase checkcheck offcheckmarkchicken feedchink chip chips chirr chisel chiseling chop cicatrix cicatrize clang clangor clank clash claw close coin color comedo competent competitive conclude concussion copy corn corrugate corrugation crack crackle cranny crater craunch crayon craze crease

Verb(5 words)

call offcancel chafe clawedcome up

Strong matches (198)

cribble crimp croakcross hatchingcross outcross-hatching crosshatch crump crunch cursoriness cut dado damage dapple dashdash offdaub defacement defect define

Show 147 more words

deformation deformity dele delete delimit delineate delve demarcate demitint depict design determine detrition diagram digdig outdike discolor discoloration disfiguration disfigurement distortion ditchdo double dutydog fooddoodle dot dough draft draw dredge dressing drill drive earmark eatage efface eliminate elucubrate enchase end engrave engravement engraving ensilage epidermis erase erasure erosion etch etching excavate exclude expunge extempore exteriority extract fault feed filing finishfinish upflash burnflaw fleck flick flute fluting fodder forage fracture fray frazzle freckle fret fretting fund furrow gall galling gash gem-engravingglass cuttingglass-cutting gloss glyptic goffergood enoughgougegouge outgrain grate grave graving graze grazing greenbacks grind grinding groan groove growl grub grumble gully hackhalf tinthaphazard hasty hatch hatching hay hemangiomahen scratcheshen trackshickeyhit the ballhurried hurt hustle impress imprint impromptu incise incision informal injure injury inscribe inscript inscription itch jack jangle jar jot keloid kink lacerate laceration lentigo lesion limation limn line lining lithograph

Noun(21 words)

crude dent dinero dough dropdutch schrapenearn excoriation excoriationsforget itgelt graffias graze grazes improvise improvised incision kale keys lettuce

Show 1 more word

lolly

Verb(10 words)

deface engrave excise excoriate expunge fray fret grave inscribe itch

Related words (330)

Noun(45 words)

loot lucre marring money moolahnever mindnick nicksnote padomit origin pawing paws pelfpractice sheetprick riga roughrough draftrub

Show 25 more words

scarifyingscore areascrabbling scrapingscratch linescratch padscratches scratching scrawl scribble scribes scrounge scuffs shekels simoleons slit sourcestarting linesubsist sugarsurface scratchessurface scratchingtool markunpolished wampum

lour lower lucubrate macula maimmake a markmake mincemeat ofmake printsmakeshift mar markmark offmark outmarking mash maul mazuma mealmere scratchmicrogroove

Show 249 more words

milium mine misdraw mispaint mole moneymortal woundmottle mutilate mutilation needfulneedle scarnevus nickno depthno waternotch oats obliterateoff the cuffoverwork paintpaint a pictureparody pasturage pasture patchpattes de mouchepencil pepper peroratepet foodpicture picturize pierce pimple pinprick pit pleat plow pock pockmark point polishingpolka dotport-wine markport-wine stainportray pothookery pothookspothooks and hangerspour it onprick prickle print provender punch punctuate puncture purse pustule quarry rabbet rake rasp rasping raze reject rend rent resolve riddle rifle rifling rift rind rip rough rubrub offrub outrubbing awayruckrule outrun rupture rut sandblasting sanding sap satisfactory savage scab scald scar scarification scarify scoopscoop outscorch score scoring scotch scouring scrabble scranch scrap scrape scrapingscratch feedscratch outscratching scrawl scribble scribbling scribe scrimp scrub scrubbing scrunch scuff sculpture scumble seal seamsebaceous cystsecond-degree burnshade shallowness shining shoaliness shovel silage sink sketch skin slash slashing slave slightness slit slops smash smoothing snarl snore sore spade speck speckle splash split splotch spongesponge outspot sprain stabstab woundstain stamp stencil stick stigma stigmatize sting stipple stippling stop strain strawstrawberry markstreak stria striate striationstrike offstrike outstripe stuff stumpy sty sufficient sulcation sulcus superficiality superficies surface swag sweat swill tattootattoo marktear terminatethird-degree burnthrill ticktick offtingle tint tittle tool tooling trace track trauma traumatize travesty trench triviality trough tunnel twang twist type-cutting underline underscore unplanned unpremeditated unpreparedup to scratchup to snuffveneer verruca vesicle wale wampum warp wart watermark weal wearwearing awaywell-worn groovewelt wen wheat whiteheadwind upwipe outwork hardwork latework overtimewoundwounds immedicablewrench wrinkle write

Adjective(3 words)

minor surface scratchquick scrapesurface scratch

Verb(13 words)

nicked pawed roughens rub scarified scarifies scrabbled scrapescrape upscratch upscrub scuffed strike

Choosing the right synonym

Closest matches in this entry: abrasion, mark, scar, scrape, start.
Sentence evidence is available for scratch, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "scratch".
Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "scratch"

Keep "scratch" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "scratch" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "scratch", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "scratch" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

6 relation types

More general

61 entries

accumulate action adjoin amass blemish cancel carve challengerchip atcollect competition competitor compile contact contender creation

Showing 16 of 61 words.

More specific

21 entries

abrasion assemble basic beginning birth cancel crude darn draft earn make nick omit onsetpractice sheetrats

Showing 16 of 21 words.

Collocations

10 entries

from scratchscratch cardscratch marksscratch padscratch paperscratch thatscratch workscratch-built scratch-madestart from scratch

Inflections

5 entries

scratched scratches scratchier scratchiest scratching

Derivations

9 entries

scratched scratcher scratchier scratchiest scratchily scratchiness scratching scratchpad scratchy

similar

2 entries

engrave etch

Translations

207 translations across 76 languages.

Albanian

4 entries

gërric verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
gërrith verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
gërryej verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
gërvisht verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Ancient Greek

4 entries

κνήθω verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
κνίζω verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
ξύω verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
ξύω verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Arabic

3 entries

خربش verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
خَرْبَش verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
خَرْبَشَ verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Armenian

3 entries

ճանկռել verb (rub the skin with rough material)
քերծել verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
քորել verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Assamese

1 entries

আঁচোৰ verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Azerbaijani

2 entries

cızmaq verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
qaşımaq verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Belarusian

2 entries

дра́паць verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
часа́ць verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Bulgarian

4 entries

дра́скам verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
дра́щя verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
жу́ля verb (rub the skin with rough material)
одра́сквам verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Burmese

1 entries

ကုတ် verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Catalan

4 entries

arpejar verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
esgarrapar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
gratar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
gratar verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Chinese Cantonese

2 entries

刮 verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
𢯎 verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Chinese Mandarin

3 entries

划 verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
抓 verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
搔 verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Czech

3 entries

poškrabat verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
škrábat verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
škrábnout verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Danish

1 entries

klø verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Dutch

3 entries

krabben verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
krassen verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
krassen verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Esperanto

1 entries

grati verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Estonian

3 entries

kratsima verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
kriimustama verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
sügama verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Faroese

4 entries

rispa verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
skava verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
skriða verb (rub the skin with rough material)
skræða verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Finnish

4 entries

hieroa verb (rub the skin with rough material)
hiertää verb (rub the skin with rough material)
kynsiä verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
naarmuttaa verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

French

3 entries

gratter verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
rayer verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
égratigner verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Galician

4 entries

cozar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
eslagañar verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
eslasar verb (rub the skin with rough material)
fuñir verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Georgian

3 entries

გაკაწვრა verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
კაწვრა verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
ფხაჭნა verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

German

4 entries

kratzen verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
kratzen verb (rub the skin with rough material)
verkratzen verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
zerkratzen verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Greek

3 entries

ξύνω verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
ξύνω verb (rub the skin with rough material)
χαράσσω verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Gujarati

1 entries

ખંજવાળવું verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Hebrew

2 entries

גֵּרֵד verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
שָׂרַט verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Hindi

1 entries

नोचना verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Hungarian

4 entries

kapar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
karcol verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
karcol verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
karistol verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Indonesian

1 entries

garuk verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Ingrian

4 entries

karsia verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
karsittaa verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
kraamia verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
kraapata verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Irish

2 entries

scríob verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
tochais verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Italian

4 entries

graffiare verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
graffiare verb (rub the skin with rough material)
graffiare verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
grattare verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Japanese

1 entries

引っ掻く verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Kashubian

1 entries

drapac verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Khmer

1 entries

អេះ verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Korean

2 entries

긁다 verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
할퀴다 verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Ladino

2 entries

araskar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
areskunyar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Latin

4 entries

scabo verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
scabō verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
scabō verb (rub the skin with rough material)
scalpō verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Lombard

1 entries

grattà verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Lushootseed

1 entries

ʔix̌ verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Macedonian

1 entries

драска verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Malay

1 entries

menggaru verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Marathi

1 entries

खाजवणे verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Māori

4 entries

ope verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
raku verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
rakuraku verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
rapi verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Nivkh

1 entries

ӽарпть verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Occitan

2 entries

gratar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
rascar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Old Galician-Portuguese

1 entries

coçar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Oromo

1 entries

hooquu verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Ottoman Turkish

3 entries

قازیمق verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
قازیمق verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
چیزمك verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Persian

1 entries

خراشیدن verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Polish

4 entries

drapać verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
drapnąć verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
skrobać verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
skrobnąć verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Portuguese

4 entries

arranhar verb (rub the skin with rough material)
arranhar verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
coçar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
rascar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Quechua

2 entries

hallp'iy verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
hasp'iy verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Rapa Nui

1 entries

raku verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Romanian

3 entries

scărpina verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
zgâria verb (rub the skin with rough material)
zgâria verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Romansch

2 entries

sgrattar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
sgrifflar verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Russian

4 entries

поцара́пать verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
поцара́пать verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
поцарапать verb (rub the skin with rough material)
почеса́ть verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Sanskrit

1 entries

रदति verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Slovak

1 entries

škrabať verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Spanish

4 entries

arañar verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
rascar verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
rasguñar verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)
raspar verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Sundanese

1 entries

garo verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Swedish

1 entries

klösa verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Sylheti

1 entries

ꠀꠌ꠆ꠞꠣꠘꠤ verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Tagalog

2 entries

kagkag verb (rub the skin with rough material)
kamot verb (rub the skin with rough material)

Tetum

1 entries

koi verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Thai

1 entries

เกา verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Tibetan

1 entries

སྦར་བྲད་བརྒྱབ verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Turkish

3 entries

kaşındırmak verb (rub the skin with rough material)
çizmek verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
çizmek verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Ukrainian

3 entries

дря́пати verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
чу́хати verb (rub the skin with rough material)
шкря́бати verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Vietnamese

1 entries

gãi verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Welsh

1 entries

crafu verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

West Flemish

2 entries

schartn verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
skartn verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Yao

1 entries

kumwaga verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Yiddish

2 entries

צעקראַצן verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
קראַצן verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Zazaki

4 entries

wıreyen verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
wıreynayen verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
wıreyneyayen verb (rub the skin with rough material)
xizen verb (mark a surface with a sharp object)

Zealandic

3 entries

kraeuwe verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)
kraeuwe verb (rub the skin with rough material)
krasse verb (rub a surface with a sharp object)

Sample sentences

45 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Don't scratch your mosquito bite. It'll get inflamed.

Source: tatoeba (23595)

The cat will scratch you if you provoke it.

Source: tatoeba (50061)

There's a scratch here. Could you give me a discount?

Source: tatoeba (61740)

Kouji was lucky; his traffic accident left only a minor scratch on the side of his car.

Source: tatoeba (62334)

Showing 4 of 45 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "scratch"?

Closest matches include abrasion, mark, scar, scrape, start.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "scratch"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "scratch"

Meaning

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