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
PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
From Shanghai to New York, shoppers found launch-day display models—especially the deep blue Pro and black Air variants—already scuffed and scratched within hours of being unboxed.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
And as the rule of the clean girl gives way to a messier, more textured era this fall, scuff marks now act like a badge of honor.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Verb
The brand markets the ring's durability, but notes that the material can scuff from time to time.
—PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
From Shanghai to New York, shoppers found launch-day display models—especially the deep blue Pro and black Air variants—already scuffed and scratched within hours of being unboxed.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
Saffiano leather ages beautifully and is known for its resistance to scratches, stains, and scuffs.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
And as the rule of the clean girl gives way to a messier, more textured era this fall, scuff marks now act like a badge of honor.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuff
Verb
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If large stuck-on food chunks remain, carefully scrape them off with a razor blade, being mindful not to scratch the stovetop.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Bright and spellbinding, glittering and dangerous, London Falling scratches every itch while unwinding this morbid mystery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even with my winter boots and sturdy soles, caution dictates a short stride, a shuffling gait end eyes riveted to the slippery ground.—
Thomas Cangelosi,
Hartford Courant,
4 Jan. 2026
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First, the sophomore shuffled back into coverage after showing A-gap pressure to intercept a Bryce Underwood pass over the middle of the field, ending a key fourth-quarter drive.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Hearing the house creak in the recordings was important, Auerbach said.—
Audrey Gibbs,
USA Today,
1 Jan. 2026
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Owners at the condo, where many units sold for upwards of $20 million, have complained of leaks, creaks, and elevators that break frequently, in one case trapping a resident for more than an hour.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Stokes, who seldom completes a five-Test series these days, had dragged his creaking, aching body through almost five full matches of hard, hot, energy-sapping cricket, like scraping butter over too much bread, but somehow soldiering on.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Restaurant staff scrape uneaten food from plates into a compost bin.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jenkins brutally stomped and punched Coto, who was severely injured and put on life support.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Take it slower and stomp a path through new snow or ski on a frozen pond.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The routine that followed was more mumbly than inspired, delivered in a smoker’s rasp and with a downcast gaze.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
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Kirbi, that rasp is so beautiful at the top of your register.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Government agencies and businesses that invest in this training, and that insist every critical number survives a deterministic check, will capture AI's benefits without stumbling into its blind spots.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
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Dodge, still suffering the consequences of axing the popular previous generations of Charger and Challenger muscle cars, saw sales stumble down 28% compared with the previous year.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuff. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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