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
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Recent Examples of scuff
Alexandra Kay, People.com, 31 May 2025
His ballistic vest showed a scuff mark on its upper right consistent with being struck by an object.
—Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 18 June 2025
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 5 May 2025
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, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Verb
Stackable chairs make storage easy, and their legs feature protective glides to prevent floor scuffs and scratches.
—Alexandra Kay, People.com, 31 May 2025
His ballistic vest showed a scuff mark on its upper right consistent with being struck by an object.
—Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 18 June 2025
Noun
The wooden boat was more than 20 feet long, and had scuffed blue paint and wooden planks for seats, The AP reported.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 5 May 2025
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, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuff
Verb
-
Cruz has barely scratched the surface of his potential.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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Take, for example, Soiree Miami Beach, a luxurious swimwear brand made with sparkly materials that don’t scratch, or Wanahat, a stylish hat brand founded by three Ecuadorian childhood friends.—
Rana Good,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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All week, campers were shuffled from one activity to the next, mixing games, prayers and church services with lectures that coincide with lessons from the Bible.—
Paul Bersebach,
Oc Register,
12 July 2025
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Guevara, 47, has been shuffled through three detention sites despite Immigration Judge James Ward’s decision to grant him bond on July 1, according to The Associated Press.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
The dim shake of her flashlight on the wall, the creak of the floor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
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Like any old building, Larkin Lodge has creaks and drafts, but Emily thinks there’s more going on.—
Gabino Iglesias,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Gently scrape away any hardened material with a butter knife.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
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There are 616 McDonald's restaurants in Ohio, according to the web scraping tool ScrapeHero.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Denver posted a 16-4 mark through the spring of ’23, sweeping the Lakers, then stomping the Heat in The Finals to finally reach the NBA’s summit.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
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Footage shared online shows the woman stomping her feet and kicking her legs from the ground.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The soulful rasp of his voice bellowed through the open-roof into the Nashville night.—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
30 May 2025
-
Wallen has abandoned the panting rasp of his mid-twenties, and now performs with force and depth.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
Symptoms include shivering, memory loss, stumbling, confusion and sleepiness.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
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But the Mets’ rotation stumbled in the second half of June and into the All-Star break.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuff. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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