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
1
Determined and combative, especially despite being smaller or weaker than an opponent.
"The underdog team played a scrappy, hard-fought match."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishEither fiercely determined and fighting hard, or disorganized and made of unconnected bits.
Common pairings
a scrappy performance
a scrappy win
scrappy underdog
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Word forms
- Comparative
- scrappier
- Superlative
- scrappiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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
See all rhymes for scrappy →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.
