scalier; scaliest
2
: of or relating to scaly animals
3
: despicable, poor
a regular scaly old shop—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens4
: infested with scale insects
scaly fruit
scaliness
noun
Examples of scaly in a Sentence
His skin was dry and scaly.
the snake's scaly skin was dry to the touch
Recent Examples on the Web
Tyrannosaurus rex, Deinonychus, Parasaurolophus and Pachyrhinosaurus – all your best scaly buddies are here.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
The biters are too tiny to defend against, tucking into the various cracks and crevices of the dinosaur’s scaly skin, and there’s little an irritated dinosaur can do but try to alleviate the itch.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
People with this condition usually notice itching, flaking, and scaly patches that form over oily skin.3
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection of the scalp that causes scaly patches, flaking skin, inflammation, and even hair loss.
—Marisa Garshick, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, which causes flaky, oily, and scaly skin.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scaly
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John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
The biters are too tiny to defend against, tucking into the various cracks and crevices of the dinosaur’s scaly skin, and there’s little an irritated dinosaur can do but try to alleviate the itch.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
People with this condition usually notice itching, flaking, and scaly patches that form over oily skin.3
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection of the scalp that causes scaly patches, flaking skin, inflammation, and even hair loss.
—Marisa Garshick, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, which causes flaky, oily, and scaly skin.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scaly
Cite this Entry
“Scaly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scaly. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scaly
adjective
scalier; scaliest
1
a
: covered with, composed of, or resembling scale or scales
b
: flaky sense 2
scaly skin
2
: infested with scale insects
scaly fruit
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