scribbly

American  

[skrib-lee] / ˈskrɪb li /

adjective

1. written or drawn in a hasty, careless, or messy way, or looking as if written or drawn in such a way.

   None of us can make out this scribbly note he left—can you?

   I really like the scribbly style of her comic strips.

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Etymology

Origin of scribbly

First recorded in 1655–65; scribbl(e) ¹ ( def. ) + -y ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

There are plenty of initials and scribbly hearts, sure, but also a lock with Batman’s insignia and at least a dozen locks marked “MYTH” with a label maker.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2022

Unlike the scribbly, energetic line in the original book illustrations by French artist Yoran Cazac, Roberts’ collaged images bring sturdy heft to the agile young man.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2022

Her panels—four in a horizontal strip, usually—were filled with a scribbly vigor, her characters shaded and freckled and slackjawed, often eyeball-less behind their cat-eye glasses.

From The New Yorker • Mar. 13, 2015

“A comic that’s drawn dense and scribbly will come across as much darker in tone than something that is clean lines,” Forney said.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2014

I guessed that the crude, scribbly letters had probably been written by a little boy.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls