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scrubby

adjective

scrub·​by ˈskrə-bē How to pronounce scrubby (audio)
scrubbier; scrubbiest
Synonyms of scrubbynext
1
: inferior in size or quality : stunted
scrubby cattle
2
: covered with or consisting of scrub
3

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
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.
Other worthy state parks to check out include Seabranch Preserve State Park, where there are six miles of hiking and biking trails that take visitors through sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and a mangrove swamp, and Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park, a great spot for birding. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025 Yazid now passed this skill on to Zain, borrowing the taxi and driving him to the empty dirt tracks that spidered out into the scrubby plains around Rawalpindi. Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025 Its clear, shallow waters were pleasant to wade into after lazing under one of the scrubby trees on the sand. Lucy Handley, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025 Arnolds Field landfill, just half a mile from Claridge’s home in Rainham, is an undulating swatch of scrubby land spanning roughly 40 acres. Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrubby

Word History

Etymology

scrub entry 1

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scrubby was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scrubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrubby. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

scrubby

adjective
scrub·​by ˈskrəb-ē How to pronounce scrubby (audio)
scrubbier; scrubbiest
1
: of small size or poor quality : stunted
scrubby cattle
2
: covered with or consisting of scrub
a scrubby hill

More from Merriam-Webster on scrubby

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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