1
as in scratched
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shuffled
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 scuffed
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Everything about the camp, with its beige corridors and scuffed canteen, is familiar and nondescript, said Alissa Wilkinson in The New York Times, but writer-director Charlie Polinger knows how to make the everyday ominous.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
Two distinct styles collide on a pair of intergenerational live recordings pitting the Buchla pioneer’s undulating sequences against the lo-fi techno producer’s scuffed textures.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Yellow roach powder covered the scuffed parquet floors and coated the tongue of Masha the cat, who roamed freely through the complex.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Midcentury design pieces bump up against vintage dial-up phones and heirlooms, including a tiny pair of scuffed riding boots Eng wore as a child.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Grint wrote a letter to Alistair Stout, the youngster stepping into Ron’s scuffed school shoes.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Just rub the inside of the peel on your scuffed shoes or on hardwood floors.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
Sprinkle scouring powder over scuffed areas of the dish.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
The Oklahoman, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Between damp docks, muddy trails, and the occasional drizzle, they were quickly soaked and scuffed.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
Here, both are completely dismantled and scuffed to the point of being barely recognizable.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026
College football is in chaos, its clothes disheveled, shirttail out, shoes expensive, Italian-made, but scuffed.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
Clean the Midsoles of Sneakers If the rubber midsoles of your sneakers get dirty or scuffed, toothpaste can help.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
Baseboards also tend to get scuffed a lot in an active household.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
Clinical signs often start in one hind limb and then progress to include both, and may include difficulty rising, hind limb weakness, incoordination, muscle loss, and scuffed toenails on hind limbs.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Years of wear and tear had scuffed the walls.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Lehkonen and O'Connor turned on the jets during a third period Kings PP as Los Angeles' Adrian Kempe fanned on a one-timer at the blue line, sending the puck skipping in front of him like a scuffed golf drive.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Everything about the camp, with its beige corridors and scuffed canteen, is familiar and nondescript, said Alissa Wilkinson in The New York Times, but writer-director Charlie Polinger knows how to make the everyday ominous.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
Two distinct styles collide on a pair of intergenerational live recordings pitting the Buchla pioneer’s undulating sequences against the lo-fi techno producer’s scuffed textures.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Yellow roach powder covered the scuffed parquet floors and coated the tongue of Masha the cat, who roamed freely through the complex.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Midcentury design pieces bump up against vintage dial-up phones and heirlooms, including a tiny pair of scuffed riding boots Eng wore as a child.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Grint wrote a letter to Alistair Stout, the youngster stepping into Ron’s scuffed school shoes.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Just rub the inside of the peel on your scuffed shoes or on hardwood floors.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
Sprinkle scouring powder over scuffed areas of the dish.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
The shoes are scuffed up and spray-painted, presumably with a can of Krylon from a home improvement retailer.
—The Oklahoman, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Between damp docks, muddy trails, and the occasional drizzle, they were quickly soaked and scuffed.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
Here, both are completely dismantled and scuffed to the point of being barely recognizable.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026
College football is in chaos, its clothes disheveled, shirttail out, shoes expensive, Italian-made, but scuffed.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
Clean the Midsoles of Sneakers If the rubber midsoles of your sneakers get dirty or scuffed, toothpaste can help.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
Baseboards also tend to get scuffed a lot in an active household.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
Clinical signs often start in one hind limb and then progress to include both, and may include difficulty rising, hind limb weakness, incoordination, muscle loss, and scuffed toenails on hind limbs.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Years of wear and tear had scuffed the walls.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuffed
Verb
-
And scratched nonstick pans are a real concern for most home cooks.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, Bump — who was drawn into the lineup after Tocchet scratched forward Matvei Michkov — scored a massive goal to get the Flyers on the board after falling behind 2-0.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The midseason trade felt relatively marginal compared to league-wide blockbusters that shuffled James Harden, Darius Garland and Anthony Davis.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Growing up in a military family, Vogel shuffled between the East Coast and Europe every two to three years.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And the uneven availability cost him a chance to fully adjust to his new role within the organization.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Heavy rain can wash away grass seed and cause uneven growth or bare spots in your lawn.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Faber took a high-sticking penalty, Heiskanen zipped a shot from the slot that eluded Wallstedt's shoulder and scraped the top of the net.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Artificial intelligence has scraped the book’s copy and polished its own words to seem like a real, emotional appeal.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Guest shark Rashaun Williams strapped on his court shoes, wiped them on their mini mat and stomped onto their court.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dedicating that much shelf space to the New York Yankees, as your organization gets stomped into the ground by them, at home?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After starting the season with the sixth-best odds to win the World Series, the Red Sox had stumbled out of the gate to a 10-17 record.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The president briefly stumbled before being assisted to a secure suite reserved for him behind the stage.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuffed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
