What does scragglier mean?
Scragglier is the comparative form of scraggly, an informal adjective describing something that appears thin, rough, uneven, or untidy. It may characterize a person’s wiry build, an animal’s scraggy coat, unkempt facial hair, or sparse and irregular vegetation. The word often conveys an impression of neglect or lack of care, but it can also be matter-of-fact rather than hostile. For example, a stray cat might be called scraggly without implying that it is unloved or unhealthy. Scraggly is most often used in everyday speech in British and American English. The comparative scragglier indicates that something has become, or is more, noticeably thin, rough, or disheveled; scraggliest is its superlative form.
adjectiveComparative of scraggly: more scraggly in appearance, especially thinner, rougher, or more unkempt.
- Thin, lean, or bony in appearance.
- Rough, uneven, or unkempt in appearance.
"The garden looked even scragglier after weeks without rain."
"A scraggly dog followed us along the muddy path."
"His beard had become increasingly scragglier over the winter."
Scraggly captures that unmistakable look of something thin, rough, or untidy rather than neatly groomed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scragglier come from?
Scraggly belongs to a family of English words connected with scrag and scraggy. The group appears to be associated with projecting, irregular, or uneven features, although the precise development of the form has varied among dictionaries. Its vocabulary relatives include scraggy and scrag, while crag and craggy belong to a related but etymologically distinct group of words referring to a rough, projecting rock or ridge.
Related word forms
How scragglier is actually used
The word is commonly used of people, animals, vegetation, and hair. It is informal and mildly disparaging, although often descriptive rather than intentionally insulting.