scrawl

[skrawl]

verb (used with object)

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

   He scrawled his name hastily across the blackboard.

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

/ skrɔːl /

verb

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

noun

1. careless or scribbled writing, drawing, or marks

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrawl¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrawl¹

C17: perhaps a blend of _sprawl and _crawl ¹

Example Sentences

By the end of October, the prime minister's frustration is obvious in the long note he scrawls at the end of a Covid briefing document marked OFFICIAL/SENSITIVE.

Read more on BBC

Woo screams, jumping on Autumn’s shoulder and peering at what Ama is scrawling.

Read more on Literature

“Biscuits would be good, too,” she whispered, scrawling the word onto the list.

Read more on Literature

Judging from his near-desperate social media posting about the whole thing being a “hoax,” it’s hard to imagine him putting his scrawl on that law.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They were scrawled across sidewalks, proclaimed on banners, repeated on the street and the tram, spoken at the hospital, at home, by his wife, by his children.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• inscribe 
• scribble