adj

scrappy

SKRA-pee

Scrappy (adj) means Determined and combative, especially despite being smaller or weaker than an opponent. Example: “The underdog team played a scrappy, hard-fought match.”

adj

Determined and combative, especially despite being smaller or weaker than an opponent.

"The underdog team played a scrappy, hard-fought match."

Made up of odd, disconnected pieces; lacking overall unity.

"His essay felt scrappy, jumping between ideas with no clear thread."

How to use scrappy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither fiercely determined and fighting hard, or disorganized and made of unconnected bits.

Common pairings

a scrappy performance a scrappy win scrappy underdog

Word forms

scrappier comparative, scrappiest superlative

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Fill the gap

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The underdog team played a _____, hard-fought match.

Etymology

Formed from scrap (a fight, or a fragment) plus the adjective ending -y.

Rhymes for scrappy

appy happy nappy pappy sappy cappy chappy crappy snappy slappy unhappy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “scrappy” mean?

The word “scrappy” means determined and combative, especially despite being smaller or weaker than an opponent. In plain terms, either fiercely determined and fighting hard, or disorganized and made of unconnected bits.

How do you pronounce “scrappy”?

“Scrappy” is pronounced SKRA-pee (/ˈskɹæpi/ in IPA).

How do you use “scrappy” in a sentence?

Here is “scrappy” used in a sentence: “The underdog team played a scrappy, hard-fought match.”

What part of speech is “scrappy”?

“Scrappy” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “scrappy” have?

“Scrappy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: determined and combative, especially despite being smaller or weaker than an opponent.