1
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
she was a scrappy girl despite—or, perhaps, because of—her small size
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controversial
given to arguing
a pair of scrappy movie critics who can never agree on anything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrappy
The first major blow to Zuckerberg's reputation as a scrappy go-getter who merely had a great idea for a harmless social media site came in 2015, with the first reporting on the Cambridge Analytica data mining scandal.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Now, the Bulls are a starless team of scrappy underdogs, happy to steal a win by any means.
—Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Yale’s scrappy Bulldogs counting on altitude, attitude to bust your NCAA Tournament bracket
The Nuggets ended up losing in Milwaukee after Braun’s punishing dunk over Lopez.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
The scrappy, high compete effort gave the Canucks a tie score heading into the third period, presenting an opportunity to grind out at least a point.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrappy
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Now, the Bulls are a starless team of scrappy underdogs, happy to steal a win by any means.
—Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Yale’s scrappy Bulldogs counting on altitude, attitude to bust your NCAA Tournament bracket
The Nuggets ended up losing in Milwaukee after Braun’s punishing dunk over Lopez.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
The scrappy, high compete effort gave the Canucks a tie score heading into the third period, presenting an opportunity to grind out at least a point.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrappy
Adjective
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The prison has become a symbol of Bukele's aggressive policies that have targeted gang violence.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Young has struggled against the Heat’s aggressive defense in recent years.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Day, a 13-time PGA Tour winner and the winner of the 2015 PGA Championship, revealed this week that he was asked to remove his controversial sweater vest at last year’s Masters, during a round in which he was partnered with Tiger Woods.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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But Sound of Freedom, while popular with conservative audiences, was also controversial.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The group wrote to Bondi to argue that the influencer should be investigated over whether she has been paid to spread propaganda for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in Gaza, it was first reported by the New York Post.—
Lauren Irwin,
The Hill,
8 Apr. 2025
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And in Lebanon, a series of Israeli attacks on the country have decapitated the militant group Hezbollah.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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However, all three of these studies come from a closely affiliated group of researchers, are based on the same dataset tracking maternal health, and use contentious measures of both IQ and fluoride exposure.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2025
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Policies around taxes, the federal budget and migration were widely seen as contentious points among the parties.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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John Shine described to me a research trip to the hostile mountain environs of Tasmania, where snakes stay under cover except for the 20 or 30 warm days each year.—
Stephen S. Hall,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
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Union members shared other experiences and stories, including those of an increasingly hostile work environment for some.—
Molly Guthrey,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Despite growing consternation and concern expressed by economists and CEOs, Trump administration officials have been stubborn in defending its trade policies.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ocasio-Cortez might have a good shot at cracking that stubborn nut.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Through an unlikely friendship with a feisty stray dog, Charlie discovers that family comes in many forms — and that sometimes, wishes do come true.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
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Boris Johnson had a fowl run-in at a wildlife park, with video posted online Sunday showing a feisty ostrich nipping at the former British prime minister’s arm during a sightseeing excursion.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scrappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrappy. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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