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
Relevance
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
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 scuff
The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Woodlots offered concealment from surveillance and attack, and the dirt surrounding this grove was scuffed by foot trails, suggesting Russian arrivals by night.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
James Raia, The Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2024
Its exterior still looks nearly new with just a few scuff marks on the rubber accent pieces.
—Madison Yauger, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Verb
His 16-minute cameo against Tottenham Hotspur in November provided flickers of the Belgian at his glorious best, threading the ball for Erling Haaland moments after coming on, before swinging in a first-time cross that was scuffed over the bar by a back-tracking defence.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Woodlots offered concealment from surveillance and attack, and the dirt surrounding this grove was scuffed by foot trails, suggesting Russian arrivals by night.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
Superior additions highlight the Ultimate trim included 19-inch wheels and scuff plates.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2024
Its exterior still looks nearly new with just a few scuff marks on the rubber accent pieces.
—Madison Yauger, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuff
Verb
-
Ava flashes scratches on her forearm, courtesy of Isabella’s fingernails.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
-
So was Kyle Connor, who was scratched on Thursday for Chris Kreider, who played a second straight game.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The plan involved shuffling around existing crew assignments to free up two of the four seats on a SpaceX capsule that launched in late September, so that Wilmore and Williams could occupy the seats on the return trip.—
Denise Chow,
NBC News,
20 Feb. 2025
-
For all of the conversation late last year analyzing how quickly Sporting KC might be able to shuffle the chairs — or even Vermes praising the way his team played Wednesday — a swap at striker, a swap in the mentality at striker, transcends everything else.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The boat moves and creaks, the sails flutter in the wind, and the crew gives a lusty hurrah as the course is set for Singapore.—
John Bleasdale,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Gracey gets an astonishing amount across in the details: the goofy creak of a leather jumpsuit, a camera angle tilted to show the utterly unspectacular pulley system that yanked Williams upside-down in front of a crowd of 125,000.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
When the piece is over, my friend scrapes her bow down the strings, and Millie howls with laughter.—
Danilyn Rutherford,
TIME,
22 Feb. 2025
-
And snow plows are still scraping streets clean after Tuesday’s storm dropped 2 to 4 inches of snow across the metro.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Warren’s deep, husky voice frees himself from the blame of an unhealthy relationship over a stomping piano beat.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Boston stomped the competition last season en route to winning their record 18th NBA championship.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Over Martin’s delicate playing, her aching rasp resonated to the rafters, a melancholy shudder that still sounded comforting.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Kennedy’s vocal rasp is not caused by an infection or respiratory condition.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Skype won attention in the 2000s for giving people a way to talk without paying the phone company, but stumbled in the mobile era and didn’t enjoy a major resurgence during the pandemic.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Those concerns came to a head during Biden's debate against now-President Donald Trump in June, when Biden sounded hoarse and appeared to stumble through several answers.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuff. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share