scruff Synonyms
Another word for scruff
• noun (Context 1)
The loose skin at the back of the neck of a person or animal, often used in the phrase 'by the scruff of the neck'.
"The mother cat gently carried her wandering kitten back to the basket by the nape of its neck."
• noun (Context 2)
Short, unshaven, and slightly untidy facial hair.
"After spending a week camping in the mountains without a razor, he returned home with a thick layer of stubble on his chin."
• noun (Context 3)
A person with a dirty, unkempt, or untidy appearance.
"His mother told him to iron his shirt before the interview so he would not look like a complete slob."
• verb (Context 4)
To grasp, hold, or restrain an animal or person firmly by the loose skin at the back of the neck.
"The veterinarian carefully scruffed the nervous ferret to administer its annual vaccination safely."
• verb (Context 5)
To make something untidy, messy, or disheveled by rubbing or ruffling it (often used with 'up').
"He affectionately scruffed the little boy's hair as he walked past the kitchen table."
Opposites of scruff
The opposite of scruff shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: