scrawly

[ skraw-lee ]

adjective

, scrawl·i·er, scrawl·i·est.

1. written or drawn awkwardly or carelessly.

Other Words From

• scrawli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrawly¹

First recorded in 1825–35; scrawl + -y ¹

Example Sentences

“I’m right-handed, and I wrote a note with my left hand saying, ‘I’m right-handed and I’m writing this with my left hand,’ so it looked kind of suspicious and scrawly,” he remembers.

From Washington Post

This was my first Impossible outing, and my notes got scrawly: “remarkable meaty chew … salt level just right … slight smoke taste … questioning reality now … I could be converted!?”

From Seattle Times

The British government fought vigorously to block public viewing of the “black spider” memos — so-called because of Charles’s scrawly handwriting style.

From Washington Post

For sure, with his scrawly signature and visage ubiquitous on buildings and T-shirts all over Venezuela,

From Reuters

Ike no Taiga, who was immersed in literati culture and wowed people by painting, impromptu, with his fingers, gives us big scrawly portraits of Chinese eccentrics.

From New York Times