scrawled; scrawling; scrawls
: to write or draw awkwardly, hastily, or carelessly
scrawled his name
: to write awkwardly or carelessly
-er/-est
: awkwardly or carelessly irregular : sprawling
pages covered with scrawly figures
Examples of scrawl in a Sentence
Verb
She scrawled her signature on the receipt.
scrawled a quick note, stuck it in their mailbox, and hurried off
Recent Examples on the Web
Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Two earlier copies contain the poem in Old English, but as afterthoughts — translated from Latin and scrawled into the margin or appended but not within the text’s main body, according to the researchers.
—Andrea Rosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Two earlier copies contain the poem in Old English, but as afterthoughts — translated from Latin and scrawled into the margin or appended but not within the text's main body, according to the researchers.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
One determined boy, maybe four or five, held a piece of green construction paper with a message scrawled on the front.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrawl
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Verb
Authorities recovered airsoft guns with neo-Nazi references scrawled on one in white and said that the Columbine High School shooters, as well as Roof and Tarrant, were among his influences.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Two earlier copies contain the poem in Old English, but as afterthoughts — translated from Latin and scrawled into the margin or appended but not within the text’s main body, according to the researchers.
—Andrea Rosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Two earlier copies contain the poem in Old English, but as afterthoughts — translated from Latin and scrawled into the margin or appended but not within the text's main body, according to the researchers.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
One determined boy, maybe four or five, held a piece of green construction paper with a message scrawled on the front.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrawl
Cite this Entry
“Scrawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrawl. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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