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Definition of scribble

scribble

/ˈskrɪb.əl/
scrib · ble
Plural:scribbles
•
Adjective:scribbly
•
Past Simple:scribbled
•
Past Participle:scribbled
•
Present Participle:scribbling
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scribble Lexical Profile

scribble Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To write or draw hastily, carelessly, or illegibly.

Example

"She quickly scribbled her phone number on the back of a receipt before leaving."

2

To card or tease coarse wool or cotton coarsely as a preliminary step before spinning.

Example

"The mill workers scribbled the raw wool to separate the fibers before the final carding process."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A piece of hasty, careless, or illegible writing, or a meaningless drawing consisting of random lines and marks.

Example

"The margins of his notebook were filled with hasty scribbles and doodles from the lecture."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for scribble
Antonyms
View all antonyms for scribble

• Rhymes for scribble

• Nearby Words

screwtop
screwup
screwy
scribble
scribbler
scribbly
scribe

Word Origin & Etymology

Late Middle English, derived from Medieval Latin scribillare, a diminutive and frequentative form of Latin scribere ('to write').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Scribble. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/scribble
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Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.