scurvy

Synonym Chooser

How is the word scurvy different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of scurvy are contemptible, despicable, pitiable, and sorry. While all these words mean "arousing or deserving scorn," scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.

a scurvy crew of hangers-on

When might contemptible be a better fit than scurvy?

The synonyms contemptible and scurvy are sometimes interchangeable, but contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.

a contemptible liar

When can despicable be used instead of scurvy?

The words despicable and scurvy can be used in similar contexts, but despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.

a despicable crime

When would pitiable be a good substitute for scurvy?

The words pitiable and scurvy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.

a pitiable attempt at tragedy

When could sorry be used to replace scurvy?

In some situations, the words sorry and scurvy are roughly equivalent. However, sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.

this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scurvy However, the good news is that scurvy is easy to combat and symptoms can be alleviated in as little as 24 hours. New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2024 Pink even filmed a music video for the track, in which she is dressed as a pirate while singing about scurvy complications. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2023 Along with violent seasickness, passengers suffered from fever, dysentery, boils, scurvy, mouth rot, rat bites, and lice so copious that they could be scraped off the body. Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023 The squadron immediately ran into trouble when typhus and then scurvy, a grotesque disease of Vitamin C deficiency, struck down the majority of the crew. Mary Ann Gwinn, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for scurvy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scurvy
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
  • So many of the latter comes thanks to Niecy Nash’s Nurse DiDi, who seems to take the time to see her patients as worthwhile much more often than her cohorts, the self-important Dr. Jenna James (Laurie Metcalf) and pitiful nurse Dawn (Alex Borstein).
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Look, everyone points to injuries as the reason for the pitiful performance so far this season, but a lot of teams are dealing with injuries.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The fighting has spawned one of the world's most wretched humanitarian disasters.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The seventh-seeded Warriors entered Tuesday night’s game at Chase Center looking to move past their wretched play-in past.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With police turning a blind eye, Portland became a honeypot for local and out-of-state addicts to score cheap dope and use it freely.
    Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
  • China leads the global production of cheap goods made in large volume, such as dishes and cooking gadgets.
    Pablo Robles, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Mingyang took the center of the Octagon from the beginning, landed hard leg kicks, and opened a nasty gash on Smith’s forehead with a step-in elbow.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • With a triple-digit heater and a nasty slider, he’s always been a tantalizing talent.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Tom Hardy stars in the neo-noir crime thriller as a corrupt detective named Walker, who shoots, punches, and drop-kicks his way through an entire criminal underworld to rescue the estranged son of dirty politician Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker).
    Mike Miller, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Nearly every dish/pan in the place was dirty multiple times a day.
    Michael Nied, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, Jordan’s CGI Winklevoss stunt is distinguishable only by having one mean brother in a blue cap and a meaner brother in a red fedora.
    Armond White, National Review, 18 Apr. 2025
  • While the game is mean to be played in couch co-op with up to four people, one solo gamer can take control of 2-4 of the heroes and tackle missions just as easily.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The fridge was smelly and disgusting before it was replaced about a week later.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Vandalizing the State Republican Party's property with disgusting Nazi symbols while screaming about 'fascism' reveals these individuals are hypocrites, idiots, or both.
    Ewan Palmer, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scurvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scurvy. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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