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adj

scaly

SKAY-lee

Scaly (adj) means Covered with scales, or having a rough, flaky surface like scales. Example: “The snake's scaly skin felt cool and dry.”

adj
1
Covered with scales, or having a rough, flaky surface like scales.
"The snake's scaly skin felt cool and dry."
"Her elbows were dry and scaly in the winter."

How to use scaly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes a surface covered in scales, or skin that has become dry and flaky.

Common pairings
scaly skin scaly patches

Word forms

scalier comparative, scalies plural, scaliest superlative

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Test yourself on “scaly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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The snake's _____ skin felt cool and dry.

Etymology

From "scale" plus the adjective ending "-y."

Related words

Rhymes for scaly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “scaly” mean?

The word “scaly” means covered with scales, or having a rough, flaky surface like scales. In plain terms, describes a surface covered in scales, or skin that has become dry and flaky.

How do you pronounce “scaly”?

“Scaly” is pronounced SKAY-lee (/ˈskeɪli/ in IPA).

How do you use “scaly” in a sentence?

Here is “scaly” used in a sentence: “The snake's scaly skin felt cool and dry.”

What is another word for “scaly”?

Words with a similar meaning to “scaly” include scaled, scarious, squamate, squamated, squamiferous and squamoid.

What is the opposite of “scaly”?

The opposite of “scaly” — its antonyms — are unscaly, esquamulose, nonscaly and scaleless.

What part of speech is “scaly”?

“Scaly” is an adjective.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial