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

• 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

In the film, Sweeney's character goes through her own hair transformations, including a brunette curly mullet, a shaggy pixie, and blonde box braids. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025

Her brunette hair was styled with a shaggy aesthetic with fringe to frame her face. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025

But as on Letterboxd, Runquist’s YouTube videos are conversational and shaggy. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025

Stir together mashed potatoes, ricotta, and salt in a large bowl; gradually add flour, stirring until a shaggy dough forms. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025

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