Apply
Scratch
Scratch verb - To damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface.
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- They couldn't actually care less whether you could translate, sight unseen, large slabs of Latin or Greek—what they did care about was your ability to master a technically difficult body of knowledge from scratch and apply it with precision and skill.
Source: Hidden Purpose Test -
In the Lufia games, the Scratch Damage formula strangely doesn't apply to Metal Slime monsters.
Source: Scratch Damage -
Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to the actual screen, which is very easy to scuff up and scratch, which can leave distracting shadows and glares on it in daylight.
Source: Useful Notes / Game Boy
Cite this Source
Scratch and Apply. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 07, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/apply/scratch
Apply & Scratch. N.p., 2016. Web. 07 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/apply/scratch>.
Scratch or Apply. 2016. Accessed August 07, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/apply/scratch.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "apply" and "scratch" have occurred on timeline