scruffy

adjective

ˈskrə-fē 

scruffier; scruffiest

: unkempt, slovenly, shaggy

a scruffy neighborhood

a scruffy beard

scruffily

ˈskrə-fə-lē 

adverb

scruffiness

ˈskrə-fē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• beat-up
• bombed-out
• dilapidated
• dog-eared
• down-at-the-heels
• down-at-heel
• down-at-the-heel
• down-at-heels
• dumpy
• grungy
• mangy
• mean
• miserable
• moth-eaten
• neglected
• ratty
• run-down
• scrubby
• seedy
• shabby
• sleazy
• tacky
• tatterdemalion
• tatty
• threadbare
• timeworn
• tumbledown

Examples of scruffy in a Sentence

The neighborhood is full of dilapidated houses with scruffy backyards.

dressed in scruffy old clothes to clean out the garage

Recent Examples on the Web

And months after his split from Jennifer Lopez this past August, Affleck, 52, was seen arriving at his offices in Los Angeles with a scruffy appearance after having a clean-shaven face during the summer. —Michelle Lee, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024

North Pole head of security Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) partners with Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans), a scruffy international bounty hunter who's on the naughty list, for an important rescue mission to save Santa in the holiday action comedy. Need a break? —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

The scrappy, scruffy Jeonghyeon grows up as a fishmonger in a remote village. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Carpenter suggests also practicing the unlearning of perfectionism and focusing on radical self acceptance and self compassion, which could even mean embracing the practice of scruffy hospitality. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

scruff, metathetic variant of scurf (also with senses "something worthless or contemptible, contemptible person") + -y entry 1

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scruffy

adjective

ˈskrəf-ē 

scruffier; scruffiest

: dirty or shabby in appearance

a scruffy beard