scratch
verb (used with object)
to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There's a scratchiness, perhaps a suspicion, about the new levels of scrutiny.
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2026
Lewis turned a standard from “The Wizard of Oz” into a country waltz, using the scratchiness in his road-worn voice to make that rainbow seem very distant.
From New York Times ● Oct. 28, 2022
When Liverpool won 7-0 at Crystal Palace a week before Christmas, the feeling was they had found their rhythm at last, that they had worked through the scratchiness of the early part of the season.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 4, 2021
“I started noticing some scratchiness in my throat, which is unlike how I usually get sick,” the “Lost” alum said, revealing his diagnosis on Instagram.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2020
She tried clearing her throat, but it was more than dry; the scratchiness was choking her.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
