shaggy

adjective

shag·​gy ˈsha-gē 

shaggier; shaggiest

1

a

: covered with or consisting of long, coarse, or matted hair

b

: covered with or consisting of thick, tangled, or unkempt vegetation

c

: having a rough nap, texture, or surface

d

: having hairlike processes

2

a

: unkempt

b

: confused or unclear in conception or thinking

shaggy ideas

a shaggy argument

shaggily

ˈsha-gə-lē 

adverb

shagginess

ˈsha-gē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of shaggy

• hairy
• silky

Examples of shaggy in a Sentence

a big, shaggy dog kept trying to lick my face

a shaggy carpet that was a relic of the 1970s

Recent Examples on the Web

There are shaggy carpets by independent atelier Beni Rugs, installations by local artists Amine El Gotaibi and Laurence Leenaert (Lrnce), and furniture pieces sourced from nearby suppliers, to name just a few. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026

The movie follows Warren Beatty’s Joe Frady, a shaggy and determined investigative reporter, who has gotten too close to a prominent political assassination. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026

Natural jute makes an appearance, of course, as does a shaggy rug from celebrity-favorite retailer Nordic Knots. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026

Models wore long scarves, Chelsea boots and shaggy Gallagher brothers-style hair that tickled the eyelids. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing shaggy

• shaggy-dog
• shaggy-dog story

Rhymes for shaggy

• aggie
• baggy
• craggy
• flaggy
• scraggy

Kids Definition

shaggy

adjective

shag·​gy ˈshag-ē 

shaggier; shaggiest

1

: covered with or made up of long, coarse, or tangled growth

2

: having a rough or hairy surface

shaggily

ˈshag-ə-lē 

adverb

shagginess

ˈshag-ē-nəs 

noun