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Scruffiest: meaning, definitions and examples

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scruffiest

 

[ ˈskrʌf.i.ɪst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

appearance, informal

The term 'scruffiest' is the superlative form of the adjective 'scruffy', which describes someone or something that is untidy or shabby in appearance. It is often used to characterize attire that is worn out, mismatched, or not well-maintained. In a broader sense, it can also refer to the overall disheveled look of a person or a place. The scruffiest individuals may appear disorganized or have an unkempt look, often resulting from neglect of grooming or care. It is most commonly used in informal contexts or casual conversations.

Synonyms

disheveled, shabby, unkempt, untidy

Examples of usage

  • He looked the scruffiest of all his friends.
  • This is the scruffiest room I have ever seen.
  • She wore her scruffiest outfit to the event.

Translations

Translations of the word "scruffiest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mais desgrenhado

🇮🇳 सबसे गंदा

🇩🇪 am unordentlichsten

🇮🇩 paling berantakan

🇺🇦 найнеохайніший

🇵🇱 najbardziej zaniedbany

🇯🇵 最も乱れた

🇫🇷 le plus négligé

🇪🇸 el más desordenado

🇹🇷 en dağınık

🇰🇷 가장 지저분한

🇸🇦 الأكثر فوضى

🇨🇿 nejnepořádnější

🇸🇰 najneporiadnejší

🇨🇳 最凌乱的

🇸🇮 najbolj neurejen

🇮🇸 mest óreiða

🇰🇿 ең ала-құла

🇬🇪 ყველაზე არეულ

🇦🇿 ən qarışıqlıq

🇲🇽 el más desordenado

Etymology

The word 'scruffy' can be traced back to the mid-19th century, derived from the noun 'scruff', which itself originated from the dialectal term used in Britain to indicate the scruff or back of the neck, commonly referring to something neglected or dirty. The first recorded use of 'scruffy' appeared around the 1850s, as a colloquial term describing something in a disordered or shabby condition. The formation of the comparative and superlative forms is a common feature in English, where 'scruffier' and 'scruffiest' emerged as the comparative forms of 'scruffy'. Over time, the term has maintained its informal connotation and is often applied in colloquial speech to describe a person or their belongings that appear visually unkempt. Today, it’s widely used to express a laid-back or careless style, especially in fashion and personal grooming contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,145, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.