Scratchy

Quick meaning: Scratchy is an adjective meaning Characterized by scratches.

Meaning

Characterized by scratches.

More Meanings

1. (of a phonograph record) Having popping and/or crackling sounds due to excessive wear, especially from scratch marks.
2. (informal) Irritable; tetchy.
3. (informal, of an analogue radio transmission) Noisy, lossy; marred by white noise or static as a result of poor or low signal, interference or unfavourable atmospheric conditions.
4. (chiefly of a sore throat) Irritating; itchy.

Example Sentences

'Now, now, don't get scratchy,' said Casali. 'You've got enough troubles of your own. […]

The FM station two hundred miles away was receivable, but the audio was too scratchy to positively identify.

Once he almost fell asleep, and then the little record player started up in his mother and father's bedroom. Mom was playing her scratchy Elvis 45s again.

An indulgent playmate, Grannie would lay aside the long scratchy-looking letter she was writing (heavily crossed ‘to save notepaper’) and enter into the delightful pastime of ‘a chicken from Mr Whiteley's’.

Word Forms

• scratchier
• scratchiest

Synonyms for scratchy

Depending on context, synonyms include abrasive, rough, unsmooth.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include abrasive, rough, unsmooth, scratchsome, scrabbly, scratchlike.

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