as in scraping
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound
I could hear the bicycle gears crunch as I shifted the derailleur
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crunching
Where does that hit rank in his career both in importance but also in terms of the bone-crunching quality of it?
—
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
To better understand the value of a CD versus a money market account, savers should start by crunching the interest-earning potential each offers now.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
After crunching the numbers, the researchers discovered that 1-standard deviation increase in optimism was linked with a 15 percent lower risk of developing dementia.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Apr. 2026
After crunching the numbers, the researchers discovered that adults who had never been married had significantly higher rates of developing cancer compared to those who were married or had been married.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 8 Apr. 2026
Jackson Travis was sent off in the 34th minute for a crunching tackle on Raheem Edwards.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Tax Day comes with paperwork, number-crunching, and a mild existential crisis, but dinner doesn’t have to suffer for it.
—Phoebe Fry, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
Wandering around the park, dry leaves crunching underfoot, feels like crashing a dress rehearsal, or an extremely chill treeworker renegade.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
This was after enormous pressure from the industry and media who scrutinized the executive and the streamer given their history for crunching the window for titles between their theatrical play and ultimate debut on Netflix.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
To better understand the value of a CD versus a money market account, savers should start by crunching the interest-earning potential each offers now.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
After crunching the numbers, the researchers discovered that 1-standard deviation increase in optimism was linked with a 15 percent lower risk of developing dementia.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Apr. 2026
After crunching the numbers, the researchers discovered that adults who had never been married had significantly higher rates of developing cancer compared to those who were married or had been married.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 8 Apr. 2026
Jackson Travis was sent off in the 34th minute for a crunching tackle on Raheem Edwards.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Tax Day comes with paperwork, number-crunching, and a mild existential crisis, but dinner doesn’t have to suffer for it.
—Phoebe Fry, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
Wandering around the park, dry leaves crunching underfoot, feels like crashing a dress rehearsal, or an extremely chill treeworker renegade.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
This was after enormous pressure from the industry and media who scrutinized the executive and the streamer given their history for crunching the window for titles between their theatrical play and ultimate debut on Netflix.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crunching
Verb
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Smart skidded across the floor for a loose ball and was fouled, a jaw-scraping effort that forced him to check his teeth on his way up from the hardwood.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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Cover and process until combined, scraping sides as needed.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The director, a graduate of the AFI conservatory, spent two summers growing up gritting his teeth at an all-boys sleepaway sports camp.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
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Bob Donnan / Imagn Images North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick picked up a second straight ACC win on Saturday, gritting to a 20-15 victory over Stanford in Chapel Hill.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Unlike nylon brushes, silicone ones carry no risk of scratching or removing paint from your bottle.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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And he is viewed as a prospect who is just scratching the surface.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crunching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crunching. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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