as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
dressed in scruffy old clothes to clean out the garage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scruffy
Marshall was soon welcomed into the scruffy jam band’s inner circle.
—
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Become a Subscriber That Caught Stealing echoes the scruffy, anything-goes atmosphere of Aronofsky’s earliest work gives it a sense of frenzied nostalgia.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
The actor also notably sported a different look than usual above the shoulders, including long curly blond locks and a less-scruffy facial-hair configuration.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Courtesy of Rachael and Alex Gagnon After being dumped on the side of the road in upstate New York, a scruffy dog named Lylah found her forever home with couple Rachael and Alex Gagnon.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scruffy
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Become a Subscriber That Caught Stealing echoes the scruffy, anything-goes atmosphere of Aronofsky’s earliest work gives it a sense of frenzied nostalgia.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
The actor also notably sported a different look than usual above the shoulders, including long curly blond locks and a less-scruffy facial-hair configuration.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Courtesy of Rachael and Alex Gagnon After being dumped on the side of the road in upstate New York, a scruffy dog named Lylah found her forever home with couple Rachael and Alex Gagnon.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scruffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scruffy
Adjective
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In this way, abandoned and often dilapidated homes are saved and renovated rather than being left to further deteriorate or be torn down.—
Eric Adler
December 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 Dec. 2025
-
To find her, Luis becomes embedded with an outlaw band of ravers, who cross the Moroccan desert in huge, dilapidated trucks.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The narrative highlights the growing, unseen populations of lonely and neglected individuals, shedding light on a vital but often ignored aspect of public care.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Over six years, Papp and Archie fostered 120 dogs and cats, and the owner said Archie was a major reason some of the most neglected and frightened animals went on to live full and happy lives.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scruffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scruffy. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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