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
Its messiness is also in step with 2020s hyperpop—scruffy, topsy-turvy electronic music that seeks to harness, not counteract, modern overstimulation.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Emiliano Martinez’s save from Lukas Nmecha’s header in the 74th minute kept them in the game, with Villa equalising in the only way probable — a scruffy goal from a set piece.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
One day in January 1766, a scruffy visitor turns up at Prince of Wales’ Fort, a remote trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company in what is now northern Manitoba.
—Malcolm Forbes, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2026
The scruffy stage manager, Bunny, turns out to be posher than the monocled director, Meredith.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scruffy
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Emiliano Martinez’s save from Lukas Nmecha’s header in the 74th minute kept them in the game, with Villa equalising in the only way probable — a scruffy goal from a set piece.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
One day in January 1766, a scruffy visitor turns up at Prince of Wales’ Fort, a remote trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company in what is now northern Manitoba.
—Malcolm Forbes, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2026
The scruffy stage manager, Bunny, turns out to be posher than the monocled director, Meredith.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scruffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scruffy
Adjective
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Ross saved the Miami Open, moving it from a dilapidated Key Biscayne venue, and retrofitting Hard Rock Stadium’s grounds for it.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
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But these Brown and Black immigrants were usually segregated into dilapidated apartments in the region’s oldest housing stock.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When first performed at L.A. Opera a decade ago, the lavish production, co-produced with English National Opera, helped recover a neglected opera.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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His refusal to weaponize suffering is one of his most important — and most neglected— lessons.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scruffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scruffy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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