scrawl

verb

ˈskrȯl 

scrawled; scrawling; scrawls

transitive verb

: to write or draw awkwardly, hastily, or carelessly

scrawled his name

intransitive verb

: to write awkwardly or carelessly

scrawl noun

scrawler noun

scrawly

ˈskrȯ-lē 

adjective

Synonyms of scrawl

• scribble
• write

Examples of scrawl in a Sentence

She scrawled her signature on the receipt.

scrawled a quick note, stuck it in their mailbox, and hurried off

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, there’s an impromptu memorial, formed from hundreds of tributes to the rapper scrawled in sharpie on poles and on the concrete. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Shelving units in the garage are tightly, but neatly, packed with containers of various items, from Nike sneakers to Cold War-era relics, labeled with a description or lot number scrawled in black marker. — Sarah Jackson valentina Duarte, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Building facades don't just look weathered and soot-stained, graffiti is scrawled on them and posters are peeling off them. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, setting fire to two mosques and scrawling graffiti on buildings, Palestinian officials said. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for scrawl

• ahl
• all
• aul
• bawl
• brawl
• call
• caul
• crawl
• dol
• doll
• drawl
• fall

Kids Definition

scrawl

verb

ˈskrȯl 

: to write or draw awkwardly, hastily, or carelessly : scribble

scrawl noun

scrawly

ˈskrȯ-lē 

adjective