as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
dressed in scruffy old clothes to clean out the garage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 scruffy
How did a scruffy comedy about five of TV’s all-time-worst human beings last this long and do so well?
—
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
Both pups have one floppy ear and a scruffy coat that begs to be cuddled.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 20 June 2025
On a sunny April afternoon in Seattle, around 40 activists gathered at the Pine Box, a beer and pizza bar in the sometimes scruffy Capitol Hill neighborhood.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired News, 16 June 2025
In a thoroughly awful game, Spurs played poorly but managed to just about sneak past Manchester United with an incredibly scruffy goal.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scruffy
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
Both pups have one floppy ear and a scruffy coat that begs to be cuddled.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 20 June 2025
On a sunny April afternoon in Seattle, around 40 activists gathered at the Pine Box, a beer and pizza bar in the sometimes scruffy Capitol Hill neighborhood.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired News, 16 June 2025
In a thoroughly awful game, Spurs played poorly but managed to just about sneak past Manchester United with an incredibly scruffy goal.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scruffy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scruffy
Adjective
-
From iconic buildings being saved to companies opening new interactive experiences for guests, the repurposing of old warehouses and dilapidated properties has allowed for growth in Louisville's urban areas.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
-
Now, as soon as next year, the historic campus will transform into housing with 213 apartments as the city's Department of Metropolitan Development and private developers redevelop dilapidated buildings downtown into residential and commercial spaces.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
But its location in the neglected and overgrown space remains a mystery.—
Laura L. Davis,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
What’s a neglected part of your ME—your health, learning, or joy?—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scruffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scruffy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share