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

The actor and producer has swapped the shaggy, caramel-toned lengths of recent months for a razor-sharp, jaw-grazing cut in a cool-toned shade of blonde. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

Atop the mesh base, most of the overlays are also rendered in shaggy shade for a further emphasis on texture. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

Drizzle the water over the mixture and toss with the forks, pressing the fat into the flour and evenly incorporating the liquid until a shaggy dough comes together. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

In close-up clips of her performance, Carey also donned a blonde wig with shaggy bangs and cherry-red highlights that framed her face and seemed to blend in seamlessly with the heavy rouge along her cheekbones. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 2 Nov. 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