What does craggily mean?
Craggily is an adverb meaning in a rugged, rocky manner — that is, with the steep, jagged quality of crags, the sharp outcroppings of rock found on mountainsides and coastlines. It can describe literal terrain, as when a trail climbs craggily toward a summit, but it is also used figuratively for human features: a face may be described as craggily handsome, suggesting strong, angular bones weathered by time and weather rather than conventional smooth good looks. The word derives from crag, a term of Celtic origin that entered English via Scots and northern dialects, combined with the adverbial suffix -ly. In practice craggily is uncommon; most writers prefer its parent adjective craggy, reserving the adverb for moments when they want the ruggedness expressed as a quality of action or appearance. It belongs chiefly to descriptive and literary registers, where it lends texture and precision to portrayals of wild landscapes and weathered faces alike.
adverbIn a rugged, rocky manner, especially in reference to terrain marked by steep crags. Also used figuratively to describe features such as a face or outline that are rugged or irregularly angular.
- In a rugged, rocky manner; with the steep, jagged character of crags (used of terrain and landscapes).
- Figuratively, in a ruggedly irregular or angular way (used of faces, features, or outlines).
"The old shepherd's face was craggily handsome, weathered by decades of mountain wind."
"The path wound craggily up the mountainside, past outcrops of bare granite."
"He was craggily handsome, his jawline sharp as split stone."
Craggily is what happens when a landscape gets so rocky it turns into an adverb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of craggily
Craggily is formed from crag, a word for a steep, rugged rock, plus the adverbial suffix -ly. Crag itself entered Middle English from Celtic sources, likely through Scots and Northern English dialects, and is related to Welsh carreg and Irish carn-words for stone. Its immediate base is the adjective craggy, so the adverb follows a common pattern of deriving manner-adverbs from descriptive adjectives. Cognate forms appear across the Celtic languages, all pointing back to roots meaning rock or stony ground.
Word family
Usage notes
Craggily is a rare adverb; writers more often rely on the adjective craggy. When it does appear, it is most common in descriptive literary prose, particularly for landscape writing and physical description. The figurative sense applied to faces is usually positive, carrying connotations of striking, weathered masculinity rather than plain unattractiveness.
Don't confuse with
Craggy is the adjective describing something full of crags (a craggy cliff), while craggily is the adverb describing how something is done or appears.
Crudely means done in a rough or unrefined way, whereas craggily specifically evokes the jagged ruggedness of rock formations.