shaggy

adjective

shag·​gy ˈsha-gē 

shaggier; shaggiest

1

a

: covered with or consisting of long, coarse, or matted hair

b

: covered with or consisting of thick, tangled, or unkempt vegetation

c

: having a rough nap, texture, or surface

d

: having hairlike processes

2

a

: unkempt

b

: confused or unclear in conception or thinking

shaggy ideas

a shaggy argument

shaggily

ˈsha-gə-lē 

adverb

shagginess

ˈsha-gē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of shaggy

• hairy
• silky

Examples of shaggy in a Sentence

a big, shaggy dog kept trying to lick my face

a shaggy carpet that was a relic of the 1970s

Recent Examples on the Web

Remove bulkiness from thick hair by opting for a shaggy pixie. —Audrey Noble, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026

Hørlyck is tall, with shaggy blond hair, elaborately tattooed forearms, and a warm, friendly manner. —Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026

Van Sant was impressed by Elwes’s preparation and physical transformation, with his shaggy hair and bushy beard. —Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026

In it, Oldham costumes up as a shaggy woodland monster, which—after a more nimble inhabitant seemingly swaps into the outfit—proceeds to engage a human in an elaborate dance routine. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing shaggy

• shaggy-dog
• shaggy-dog story

Rhymes for shaggy

• aggie
• baggy
• craggy
• flaggy
• scraggy

Kids Definition

shaggy

adjective

shag·​gy ˈshag-ē 

shaggier; shaggiest

1

: covered with or made up of long, coarse, or tangled growth

2

: having a rough or hairy surface

shaggily

ˈshag-ə-lē 

adverb

shagginess

ˈshag-ē-nəs 

noun