Scraggy: meaning, definitions and examples

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scraggy

 

[ ˈskræɡi ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

physical appearance

Scraggy describes something or someone that appears thin, bony, or unkempt. It often conveys a sense of roughness or a neglected state, particularly in reference to physical characteristics or the condition of something.

Synonyms

emaciated, gaunt, scrawny, skinny, thin

Examples of usage

  • He looked scraggy after weeks of camping.
  • The scraggy dog wandered the streets seeking food.
  • Her scraggy appearance made her look much older than she was.

Translations

Translations of the word "scraggy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 esquelético

🇮🇳 कंकाल जैसा

🇩🇪 dürr

🇮🇩 kurus

🇺🇦 худий

🇵🇱 chudy

🇯🇵 痩せた

🇫🇷 maigre

🇪🇸 esquelético

🇹🇷 sıska

🇰🇷 여위다

🇸🇦 هزيل

🇨🇿 hubený

🇸🇰 chudý

🇨🇳 瘦弱的

🇸🇮 suhe

🇮🇸 beinagrípur

🇰🇿 жіңішке

🇬🇪 ხორცგაწვდილი

🇦🇿 zəif

🇲🇽 esquelético

Word origin

The word 'scraggy' is believed to have originated in the late 19th century, deriving from the word 'scrag,' which in British English refers to something that is thin or emaciated. The term 'scrag' itself is suggested to be a dialectal variation of 'scraggy,' relating to the concept of being lean or having an ill-kept appearance. The usage of 'scraggy' can often invoke images of neglected animals or unkempt people, emphasizing a rough, ragged quality to their appearance. The adjective has since been incorporated into more colloquial speech, often used to describe both living beings and objects that appear worn down or in poor condition.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,117, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.