scrawl

American  

[skrawl] / skrɔl /

verb (used with object)

1. to write or draw in a sprawling, awkward manner.

   He scrawled his name hastily across the blackboard.

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verb (used without object)

1. to write awkwardly, carelessly, or illegibly.

noun

1. awkward, careless, or illegible handwriting.

2. something scrawled, as a letter or a note.

scrawl British  

/ skrɔːl /

verb

1. to write or draw (signs, words, etc) carelessly or hastily; scribble

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noun

1. careless or scribbled writing, drawing, or marks

Other Word Forms

• scrawler noun
• scrawly adjective
• unscrawled adjective
• unscrawling adjective

Etymology

Origin of scrawl

1605–15; perhaps to be identified with late Middle English scraule to sprawl, crawl (blend of sprawl and crawl ¹ )

Example Sentences

In Barcelona, a black graffiti scrawl has appeared on a long gray wall: “Digital Nomads go home!”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

The BBC has seen a copy of the judgement which includes the report and a two-page prescription which shows the doctor's unreadable scrawl.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

They invited their friends to scrawl spray-painted phrases and sketches across the walls, an aesthetic now seen in Dave’s locations around the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 15, 2025

You’d scrawl your signature on each of the 25 cards, stuff them into their flimsy red envelopes and address them, painstakingly, to each member of your class.

From New York Times • Feb. 10, 2024

That weird scrawl of small and large letters that slant to the left instead of to the right.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Related Words

• inscribe
• scribble