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

There’s an image of New York City, calcified in film, memoir, and newsprint, of a city built on a foundation of scruffy subcultures, especially those communities grounded in the city’s hundreds of distinct diasporas. —Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026

But the survivalist was quick to note that his mother often called him the scruffiest person in the room. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026

In a mugshot released earlier this week by the Orange County Department of Corrections, Ramagem appears with red, puffy eyes, a scruffy beard and wearing a green sweatshirt. —Maria Clara Matos, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026

But a lot of folks fondly remember original Freight & Salvage, a more intimate and scruffy joint that was a beloved Berkeley jam spot. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 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