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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Across from them stood a scruffy line of about 20 members of the Patriot Guard, a motorcycle group of veterans in black leather vests, T-shirts and jeans. 
Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Given this popularity, a first-time listener might be surprised at how scruffy the song sounds. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 So the Thai government contacted the only people who could possibly help: Stanton and his scruffy team of divers. Paddy O'connell, Outside Online, 4 Aug. 2022 And before a large blackboard choked with Einstein calculations, his scruffy little genius soft-boiled an egg. Robert D. Mcfadden, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 But look closer and take her in: a harmless opossum, in all her scruffy glory. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 The new 6th Street Viaduct crosses more industry than water, spanning a scruffy flat of lofts, warehouses and rail lines. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2022 Gendron wore an orange jump suit, shackles, and a black mask covering a scruffy beard. Carolyn Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 16 June 2022 Set largely among kids, and also in the home of Paul’s scruffy and combative Jewish family, the movie is bustling, personable, anecdotal — and also something that Gray hardly ever is, which is funny. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 May 2022 See More
Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Given this popularity, a first-time listener might be surprised at how scruffy the song sounds. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 So the Thai government contacted the only people who could possibly help: Stanton and his scruffy team of divers. Paddy O'connell, Outside Online, 4 Aug. 2022 And before a large blackboard choked with Einstein calculations, his scruffy little genius soft-boiled an egg. Robert D. Mcfadden, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 But look closer and take her in: a harmless opossum, in all her scruffy glory. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 The new 6th Street Viaduct crosses more industry than water, spanning a scruffy flat of lofts, warehouses and rail lines. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2022 Gendron wore an orange jump suit, shackles, and a black mask covering a scruffy beard. Carolyn Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 16 June 2022 Set largely among kids, and also in the home of Paul’s scruffy and combative Jewish family, the movie is bustling, personable, anecdotal — and also something that Gray hardly ever is, which is funny. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 May 2022 See More 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
ˈskrə-fē
scruffier; scruffiest
: dirty or shabby in appearance
scruffily
adverb
as in shabbily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- shabbily
- untidily
- sleazily
- messily
- nastily
- dirtily
- filthily
- grubbily
- slatternly
- foully
- inelegantly
- slovenly
- sloppily
- dingily
- dowdily
- mussily
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sharply
- nattily
- smartly
- dashingly
- neatly
- orderly
- snappily
- trimly
- tidily
- elegantly
- fashionably
- stylishly
- modishly
- sprucely
- swankily