scrawl

[ skrawl ]

See synonyms for: scrawl scrawled on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to write or draw in a sprawling, awkward manner: He scrawled his name hastily across the blackboard.

verb (used without object)

to write awkwardly, carelessly, or illegibly.

noun

awkward, careless, or illegible handwriting.
something scrawled, as a letter or a note.

Origin of scrawl

1605–15; perhaps to be identified with late Middle English scraule to sprawl, crawl (blend of sprawl and crawl¹)

Other words from scrawl

un·scrawled, adjective
un·scrawl·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scrawl in a sentence

The coffee chain is encouraging Beltway insiders to cut a fiscal-cliff deal by scrawling the phrase “come together” on cups.
Starbucks’ Effort to Solve the Fiscal Cliff Probably Won’t Work | Daniel Gross | December 26, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Kelly hanged herself in her bedroom Nov. 8, scrawling the date of the alleged sexual contact, Sept. 26, on her wall.
A Shocking Teen Suicide | Mary M. Chapman | November 13, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
For Szabo, 32, already a mother to three young boys, scrawling the message marked a breaking point.
The C-Section Backlash | Danielle Friedman | October 17, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
And as to his being a twelvemonth a scrawling such another, I'll no more believe it than I'll fly.
Camilla | Fanny Burney
Often she found him painfully scrawling huge letters upon any old piece of paper he happened to find.
The Fourth Watch | H. A. Cody

Beethoven was in the habit of scrawling all kinds of memoranda on his shutters in leadpencil—accounts, musical themes, etc.
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume III (of 3) | Alexander Wheelock Thayer
He had been scrawling meaningless curlycues on a piece of paper as Ed Meyers talked.
Roast Beef, Medium | Edna Ferber
And then the cheek of scrawling his silly name on a fellows door!
On Your Mark! | Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for scrawl

scrawl

/ (skrɔːl) /

verb

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

noun

careless or scribbled writing, drawing, or marks

Origin of scrawl

C17: perhaps a blend of sprawl and crawl 1

Derived forms of scrawl

scrawler, noun
scrawly, adjective

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

Browse