shaggy

adjective

shag·​gy ˈsha-gē How to pronounce shaggy (audio)
shaggier; shaggiest
Synonyms of shaggynext
1
a
: covered with or consisting of long, coarse, or matted hair
b
: covered with or consisting of thick, tangled, or unkempt vegetation
c
: having a rough nap, texture, or surface
d
: having hairlike processes
2
a
: unkempt
b
: confused or unclear in conception or thinking
shaggy ideas
a shaggy argument
shaggily
ˈsha-gə-lē How to pronounce shaggy (audio)
adverb
shagginess
ˈsha-gē-nəs How to pronounce shaggy (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of shaggy in a Sentence

a big, shaggy dog kept trying to lick my face a shaggy carpet that was a relic of the 1970s
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Close on either side were eerie woods flooded with shallow swamp water, the trees’ shaggy trunks festooned with air plants and the occasional ghost orchid. — Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025 Natasha Lyonne, who’s back as shaggy amateur detective Charlie Cale, was floored watching Erivo dip in and out of so many roles, which include a DJ, a professor, an artist, and an apple picker. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025 Harris was seen with a shaggy brunette hairdo while wearing a navy blue shirt under a black puffer coat and dark blue jeans. — Esther Kang, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025 The lab mice, which have been modified to have shaggy fur and golden coats, are a demonstration of the kind of gene edits that the company hopes to perform on a much larger scale, modifying Asian elephants to more closely resemble their woolly mammoth ancestors. — Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shaggy

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shaggy was in 1581

Phrases Containing shaggy

Rhymes for shaggy

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Browse Nearby Words

shaggy
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Cite this Entry

“Shaggy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaggy. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

shaggy

adjective
shag·​gy ˈshag-ē How to pronounce shaggy (audio)
shaggier; shaggiest
1
: covered with or made up of long, coarse, or tangled growth
2
: having a rough or hairy surface
shaggily
ˈshag-ə-lē How to pronounce shaggy (audio)
adverb
shagginess
ˈshag-ē-nəs How to pronounce shaggy (audio)
noun

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