scrubby

adjective

scrub·​by ˈskrə-bē 

scrubbier; scrubbiest

1

: inferior in size or quality : stunted

scrubby cattle

2

: covered with or consisting of scrub

3

: shabby, paltry

Synonyms of scrubby

• dilapidated
• neglected

Examples of scrubby in a Sentence

changed into an old flannel shirt and a scrubby pair of jeans to clean out the garage

Recent Examples on the Web

The project was on the side of a scrubby hill that looked nothing like the steep timber and chaparral where California’s destructive fires burn and the insurance market has fled. — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

The brick pathway at my feet passed through a small ornamental fence, crossed some scrubby grass, then ran up the steps to the Helen Keller Birthplace at Ivy Green. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Wild sage and scrubby junipers riddle the sand, boulders punctuate the foothills and draws, and the impressive ridgelines of the Sierra Eastside tower over it all, seemingly close enough to splash with the flick of a finger. — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026

At first glance, Komodo National Park seems austere with its volcanic hills covered in scrubby grass instead of the dense tropical foliage found elsewhere in Indonesia. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

scrub entry 1

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for scrubby

• chubby
• cubby
• grubby
• hubby
• shrubby
• stubby
• tubby

Kids Definition

scrubby

adjective

scrub·​by ˈskrəb-ē 

scrubbier; scrubbiest

1

: of small size or poor quality : stunted

scrubby cattle

2

: covered with or consisting of scrub

a scrubby hill