scrappy
scrappy Lexical Profile
scrappy Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
North American Having an aggressive, determined, and spirited attitude, especially when competing against stronger opponents or overcoming limited resources.
"The scrappy startup managed to outperform several established corporations through sheer ingenuity and persistence."
British Consisting of disorganized, incomplete, or disconnected parts; lacking overall coherence or polish.
"Both teams struggled to maintain possession during a scrappy first half full of misplaced passes."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North American English, 'scrappy' is typically a compliment describing an underdog's grit and determination, whereas in British English it more commonly carries a negative sense of being disorganized, fragmented, or poorly put together.
• Rhymes for scrappy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 19th century from the noun 'scrap' plus the suffix '-y', drawing separately on the older sense of 'scrap' as a small fragment (from Old Norse 'skrap') and the later colloquial sense of 'scrap' as a fight or scuffle.