adjective
-
having many crags
-
(of the face) rugged; rocklike
Other Word Forms
- craggedly adverb
- craggedness noun
- craggily adverb
- cragginess noun
- uncraggy adjective
Etymology
Origin of craggy
Explanation
Something is craggy when it's uneven, rough, and jagged, like the craggy cliffs along a rocky beach. The adjective craggy is most often used to describe a landscape or natural feature like a hill or outcrop, and occasionally a scarred or pitted face, like your uncle's craggy cheeks. The word comes from crag, "rugged cliff or rock." Most crags are found in northern Scotland and England, and the roots of crag go back to a Celtic source.
Vocabulary lists containing craggy
Everything Sad Is Untrue
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Paradise on Fire
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That distinct fat melts slowly in the oven, creating a loose, craggy structure that sizzles into a proper crust on the outside while staying plush within.
From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026
Not unlike a bighorn, she handily scrambled up the craggy slope it stretched over.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026
Weir’s playing was nimble and intuitive, his voice a sly croon that got appealingly craggy with age.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2026
Exploring these craggy psychological contours from the perspectives of the investigators, the accused’s shocked parents, and a psychologist tasked with evaluating the boy and his parents in four taut episodes is equally impressive.
From Salon • Dec. 17, 2025
She went to one of the craggy trees and leaned against it, taking in the loamy scent of its bark through the soft beak of her nose.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
