scrappy

1 of 2

adjective (1)

scrap·​py ˈskra-pē How to pronounce scrappy (audio)
scrappier; scrappiest
: consisting of scraps
scrappy meals

scrappy

2 of 2

adjective (2)

scrappier; scrappiest
1
2
: having an aggressive and determined spirit : feisty

Examples of scrappy in a Sentence

Adjective (2) she was a scrappy girl despite—or, perhaps, because of—her small size a pair of scrappy movie critics who can never agree on anything
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
For five days and nights, the tech world remained glued to X for blow-by-blow coverage from a cadre of scrappy reporters. Martine Paris, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025 Mangiapane wasn’t put in an ideal position to rack up points, but was still an impactful forward because of his scrappy, high-energy playing style and high-end two-way game. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 11 July 2025 Outfielder Sal Frelick isn't an all-star yet, but the speedy, scrappy outfielder is slowly becoming the face of the 2025 team. Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 11 July 2025 Drenched in hues of pink and purple, the eye-popping world hosts less polished characters revealing the animation’s more scrappy, independent provenance. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrappy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

scrap entry 1

Adjective (2)

scrap entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1837, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scrappy was in 1837

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scrappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrappy. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

scrappy

adjective
scrap·​py
ˈskrap-ē
scrappier; scrappiest
1
2
: having an aggressive and determined spirit
scrappiness noun
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