scraggly

adjective

scrag·​gly ˈskra-g(ə-)lē 

: irregular in form or growth

scraggly hills

a scraggly beard

also : unkempt

Synonyms of scraggly

• jagged
• ragged

Examples of scraggly in a Sentence

a scraggly little tree

Recent Examples on the Web

Mackeeper present themselves as scraggly anti-heroes, saving music one banger at a time. — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026

There were people in military uniforms and young men with long hair and scraggly beards. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

In a particularly Ethan Hunt-ish twist, the actor wears a rubbery disguise—a potbellied suit, a scraggly gray comb-over, and a smattering of old-guy makeup. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

The trailer finds Depp gray-haired, with a scraggly beard, eerie eyes and thick accent, getting thrown to the ground and arrested. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of scraggling, perhaps irregular from scraggy entry 2

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scraggly

• straggly

Kids Definition

scraggly

adjective

scrag·​gly ˈskrag-(ə-)lē 

scragglier; scraggliest

: of rough or uneven outline : ragged, unkempt

a scraggly beard