SCRAMBLING Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

scrambling

verb

present participle of scramble

as in climbing

to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling the toddler scrambled up the stairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in disrupting

to undo the proper order or arrangement of scrambled the letters of the word

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 scrambling Svedin said that as they were headed for the bridge, people were scrambling to beat the rising water. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 The rest of the family is now scrambling to find information from various sources. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Next happiest to see someone of Murray’s throwing and scrambling ability would be a defense tired of getting short breaks from an offense ranked last in third-down conversions. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 Their ambition rooted from high school stardom is to land a scholarship at a four-year program, which is easier said than done, given the amount of players across the country scrambling for such chances. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Some insurance and travel companies still depend on MTurk for data workers, and are now scrambling to find alternative platforms, Pawloski said. — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 Still, a sudden downpour eclipsed the show’s start, with many attendees scrambling for cover or abruptly changing into ponchos and hoodies. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Videos show devastation in Nepal The footage captures people scrambling to escape as floodwaters surge through the Himalayan border region. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Withdrawing without explanation or a plan to reconnect just creates a new conflict, leaving the person on the receiving end scrambling to figure out what went wrong. — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrambling

Verb

Another shows someone climbing into a helicopter, stepping from a roof terrace, onto the landing gear and then into the cockpit, after appearing to take off their t-shirt to wave and attract the aircraft’s attention.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Summer has been scorching across California, with temperatures climbing as high as 110 degrees in some parts of the state.

— Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of climbing

Verb

Almost constant air raids in Kyiv have now reached their third day, choking the economy in the Ukrainian capital and severely disrupting civilian life more than 4½ years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
In 2023, workers accused the company of disrupting union activities, including implying workers could be dismissed for participating in a union protest and locking emergency exits on the day workers planned to picket outside.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of disrupting

Verb

There must have been a hundred of us there, circling the truck, clambering onto its hood, shuffling and shimmying and twerking with abandon.

— Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
The field was narrowed to eight contestants who competed before the president on Tuesday night, clambering through a Ninja Warrior–style obstacle course while wearing red, white, and blue.

— Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of clambering

Verb

Summary The Chicago Cubs are currently shuffling their infield due to Dansby Swanson's oblique injury, moving Nico Hoerner to shortstop and Pedro Ramírez to second base.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Keeping your eye on Bredeson is as hard as tracking a ball beneath shuffling cups.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of shuffling

Verb

The relative rarity and disturbing nature of these cases are part of what attracts so much attention, said Michelle Oberman, a law professor at Santa Clara University who has studied and written about women who kill their children.

— N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
But after a series of disturbing events begins occurring around town, including the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline, Celeste, Renata, Jane and Bonnie must grapple with the weight of their past secrets, a synopsis reads.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Browse Nearby Words

scrambles

scrambling

scrammed

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“Scrambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrambling. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of scrambling

verb

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