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Synonyms

scrappy

1 American  
[skrap-ee] / ˈskræp i /

adjective

scrappier, scrappiest

  1. made up of scraps scrap or of odds and ends; fragmentary; disconnected.

scrappy 2 American  
[skrap-ee] / ˈskræp i /

adjective

scrappier, scrappiest

  1. inclined to fight, argue, or compete; aggressive: Having to defend itself against a giant corporation gave the new company a reputation as a scrappy contender.

    Badgers are such scrappy fighters that coyotes will team up with them out of fear of being eaten by them.

    Having to defend itself against a giant corporation gave the new company a reputation as a scrappy contender.

  2. having or showing spirit and determination, especially in spite of obstacles.

    This era formed dozens of legends—strong-willed, scrappy survivors whose faith in their cause was unshakable.
scrappy 1 British  
/ ˈskræpɪ /

adjective

  1. fragmentary; disjointed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
scrappy 2 British  
/ ˈskræpɪ /

adjective

  1. informal pugnacious

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • scrappily adverb
  • scrappiness noun

Etymology

Origin of scrappy1

First recorded in 1830–40; scrap 1 + -y 1

Origin of scrappy2

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; scrap 2 + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Apple has come a long way from its days as a scrappy underdog in the personal-computing world.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

"We now have a reference point that allows us to accurately identify more scrappy finds and map out evolutionary transitions in anatomy and body size."

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

The Scot clinched three scrappy frames before making breaks of 75 and 67 to win the contest 5-0.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Across town, a new fair, ENZO—intimately scaled and founded by collector R Parmar—brings nine downtown New York galleries together in a participation-fee-free exhibition that offers a scrappy, DIY alternative to this week’s other events.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

“Will Bob come out on top again, or will the scrappy Jessica snatch victory from his clammy hands?!”

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.