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View synonyms for scrawl

scrawl

[ skrawl ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to write or draw in a sprawling, awkward manner:

    He scrawled his name hastily across the blackboard.



verb (used without object)

  1. to write awkwardly, carelessly, or illegibly.

noun

  1. awkward, careless, or illegible handwriting.
  2. something scrawled, as a letter or a note.

scrawl

/ skrɔːl /

verb

  1. to write or draw (signs, words, etc) carelessly or hastily; scribble
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. careless or scribbled writing, drawing, or marks
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈscrawler, noun
  • ˈscrawly, adjective
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Other Words From

  • un·scrawled adjective
  • un·scrawling adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of scrawl1

1605–15; perhaps to be identified with late Middle English scraule to sprawl, crawl (blend of sprawl and crawl 1 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of scrawl1

C17: perhaps a blend of sprawl and crawl 1
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Example Sentences

Artists would use pen names and scrawl them across subway cars, walls, shops, and office buildings.

In the past, troops would scrawl notes and slap stickers in these last stops before warzones.

I felt the power in my fingernails to brand the earth with my own scrawl.

Around the edges in her own spidery scrawl she would ask how I was.

She held it while the trooper bent over the strange scrawl, and ran his eyes along it to learn the context.

Reading, thanks to Sebastian's patience, he might make shift with; he could barely scrawl an awkward fist.

It was a veritable scrawl, madam, running something like this: 'I return your daughter to you.

The general will pardon this scrawl; and should he send an express after us, please to let Mrs. Pike know of the opportunity.

Being seated on the ground, 585 and writing on the back of a book, I hope will plead my excuse for this scrawl.

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scrawscrawler