adj

scratchy

SKRAT-shee

Scratchy (adj) means Rough or coarse against the skin, causing irritation. Example: “The wool sweater felt scratchy against his neck.”

adj

Rough or coarse against the skin, causing irritation.

"The wool sweater felt scratchy against his neck."

Marred by static, crackling, or interference, especially in sound recordings.

"The old vinyl had a scratchy, worn-out sound."

How to use scratchy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRough and irritating to the touch, or full of crackle and static.

Common pairings

scratchy fabric scratchy voice scratchy recording

Word forms

scratchier comparative, scratchiest superlative

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Fill the gap

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The wool sweater felt _____ against his neck.

Etymology

Formed from scratch plus the adjective ending -y.

Rhymes for scratchy

patchy catchy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “scratchy” mean?

The word “scratchy” means rough or coarse against the skin, causing irritation. In plain terms, rough and irritating to the touch, or full of crackle and static.

How do you pronounce “scratchy”?

“Scratchy” is pronounced SKRAT-shee (/ˈskɹæt͡ʃi/ in IPA).

How do you use “scratchy” in a sentence?

Here is “scratchy” used in a sentence: “The wool sweater felt scratchy against his neck.”

What part of speech is “scratchy”?

“Scratchy” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “scratchy” have?

“Scratchy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: rough or coarse against the skin, causing irritation.