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 of scruffy

• dilapidated
• neglected

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

Pre-distressed holes reveal different swatches underneath, and the soles come looking scruffy just like on numerous hits from Vans over the past year or so. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

That scruffier, cozier version of androgyny coexisted in the culture with the more flamboyant gender-bending of glam rock. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Some scruffy seconds later, Rayan beat his man and found his striker. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

His daughter’s no-nonsense nanny, Malvina (Anna Diaz), side-eyes her bougie employers, while Silvina’s scruffy ex-husband, Ricardes (Manuel Garcia Rulfo), creeps around the gardens, occasionally drawing Camilo into a heart-to-heart. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for scruffy

• buffy
• fluffy
• puffy
• stuffy

Kids Definition

scruffy

adjective

ˈskrəf-ē 

scruffier; scruffiest

: dirty or shabby in appearance

a scruffy beard