1
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
she was a scrappy girl despite—or, perhaps, because of—her small size
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controversial
given to arguing
a pair of scrappy movie critics who can never agree on anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrappy
Golden State was coming off a scrappy victory over hapless Washington, snapping a five-game losing streak.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2026
Those early days were scrappy and communal.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Throughout the campaign, Conyears-Ervin deflected from her controversies by framing herself as a scrappy politician who is the right candidate to defend the district’s most vulnerable residents.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
But some of the other players that have entered the distribution sector in recent years are much scrappier and more mission-driven.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrappy
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2026
Those early days were scrappy and communal.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Throughout the campaign, Conyears-Ervin deflected from her controversies by framing herself as a scrappy politician who is the right candidate to defend the district’s most vulnerable residents.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
But some of the other players that have entered the distribution sector in recent years are much scrappier and more mission-driven.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrappy
Adjective
-
Brvenik, 44, was diagnosed in 2024 with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Your sense of self takes the lead as the Moon, presently in your sign, opposes aggressive Mars across your partnership zone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When not giddily tearing apart the rom-com – a key conversation between Charlie and Emma happens in the trope-iest of cinematic eateries, a diner – Borgli asks really major thematic questions with his controversial subject matter.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Denver City Council members face a vote this week that will determine whether the city keeps dozens of license plate-reading cameras or ends the controversial program — at least, for now.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In Lebanon, where Israel has started an invasion in the south while targeting the Hezbollah militant group, officials said more than 1,100 people have been killed in the country since the start of the war.—
Sam Metz,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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He was killed in southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the militant group Hezbollah, as Israel expands an invasion there.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some Charlotte region transportation board members want a say on whether the contentious Interstate 77 South toll lane project should continue based on upcoming design changes.—
Desiree Mathurin
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Quebec’s identity has been contentious since the 1760s when the British completed their takeover of what was then called New France.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The 45th president’s victory in the crowded 2016 primary effectively toppled the existing Republican Establishment, injecting the party with a combination of populism and distrust that was especially hostile to the way things were done before.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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Customers will keep fighting back with dirty returns, unused reservations and hostile reviews.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Colleges and universities nationwide continue to grapple with polemic issues associated with the fair treatment of individuals of differing backgrounds, political persuasions, and sexuality.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year in our great nation and especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Norma Harris was a feisty, independent-minded business owner who did not respond docilely when Glenn Harris first sought and was granted temporary guardianship over his mother’s estate, Hal Harris said.—
JC Hallman,
Oklahoma Watch,
22 Mar. 2026
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The game was a feisty one, with Barclay Goodrow having to fight Noah Cates late in the second period.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Across the Rockies and beyond, many of our favorite mountains were haunted by unseasonably warm spikes and stubborn weather patterns that shut out snow for weeks on end.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
31 Mar. 2026
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For stubborn blockages, a plumber’s snake can help break things loose.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrappy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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