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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrappy
Denise – scrappy, sarcastic, and clever – at first was hostile towards Steven, but that passionate annoyance later evolved into teasing, affectionate companionship.
—
Sarah John, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
That scrappy existence makes his billionaire milestone all the more remarkable—especially as a pioneer in the climbing world.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
But owner Danny Meyer wants to remind you about its days as a scrappy ingénue, naïvely determined to show this gritty city a thing or two about democratic dining.
—Christine Muhlke, Air Mail, 20 Sep. 2025
TikTok is best for short, scrappy videos.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrappy
Sarah John, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
That scrappy existence makes his billionaire milestone all the more remarkable—especially as a pioneer in the climbing world.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
But owner Danny Meyer wants to remind you about its days as a scrappy ingénue, naïvely determined to show this gritty city a thing or two about democratic dining.
—Christine Muhlke, Air Mail, 20 Sep. 2025
TikTok is best for short, scrappy videos.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrappy
Adjective
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Sell assets for picks and cap space and attack an aggressive rebuild this offseason.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Control an aggressive infestation with a preemergent herbicide applied in late summer before chickweed seeds germinate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Daniels also said the bill could conflict with the higher education overhaul, Senate Bill 1, which prohibits universities from taking a position on controversial beliefs or policies.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
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But residents are demanding reassurance that the land won’t be used for controversial projects dividing other communities, such as data centers.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As such, the political and militant body – which has governed the territory since June 2007 – will need to be in a desperate situation to accept the terms.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
30 Sep. 2025
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Trump’s peace plan has backed Hamas into a corner, leaving the militant group to face an existential dilemma.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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China began conducting the contentious patrols after a February 2024 accident in which two Chinese fishermen drowned near Kinmen while fleeing from Taiwan’s coast guard.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Appointing James Bunce as performance director, having worked with him before at Monaco, was arguably the best decision of Mitchell’s short — and contentious — tenure.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Tampa is heading into a hostile environment against a feisty Seattle Seahawks team that matches them with a 3-1 record.—
Josh Buckhalter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Republicans, traditionally seen as more hostile to government, are often viewed as the shutdown aggressors.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers, these small canines are energetic, bold and stubborn.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Both options meant navigating some stubborn supporters.—
Kevin Coulson,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But Maura never overdoes the feisty granny bit.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
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To Gandara’s point about being feisty, Arroyo once jammed her toe running into the stands in pursuit of a ball.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scrappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrappy. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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