scruffy

scruffy

adjective \ˈskrə-fē\

scruff·i·erscruff·i·est

Definition of SCRUFFY

: unkempt, slovenly, shaggy <a scruffy neighborhood> <a scruffy beard>

— scruff·i·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb

— scruff·i·ness \-fē-nəs\ noun

Examples of SCRUFFY

1. The neighborhood is full of dilapidated houses with scruffy backyards.
2. <dressed in scruffy old clothes to clean out the garage>

Origin of SCRUFFY

English dialect scruff something worthless

First Known Use: 1871

Related to SCRUFFY

Synonyms

beat-up, bombed-out, dilapidated, dog-eared, down-at-the-heels (or down-at-heel also down-at-the-heel or down-at-heels), dumpy, grungy, mangy, mean, miserable, moth-eaten, neglected, ratty, run-down, scrubby, shabby, seedy, sleazy, tacky, tatterdemalion, tatty, threadbare, timeworn, tumbledown

Related Words

abandoned, uncared-for, unkept; desolate, forlorn, godforsaken; broken-down, decrepit, tired, worn-out; bedraggled, dingy, ragged, tattered; decaying, deteriorated, deteriorating, rackety, ramshackle, rattletrap, rickety, tumbledown; broken, damaged, destroyed, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, ruined, wrecked

Near Antonyms

brand-new, fresh, new; cared-for, kept-up, maintained; mended, patched, rebuilt, reconstructed; smart, spiffy, spruce

Rhymes with SCRUFFY

fluffy, huffy, puffy, snuffy, stuffy, toughie