shaggy

adjective

shag·​gy ˈsha-gē How to pronounce shaggy (audio)
shaggier; shaggiest
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
b
: confused or unclear in conception or thinking
shaggy ideas
a shaggy argument
shaggily adverb
shagginess noun

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 Likewise, Lowe’s band sounded convincingly shaggy and unbuttoned, lending the impression of clambering behind the show’s procession like a second line. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 The three 40ish-minute episodes sent to critics (out of eight) run shaggy with jokes, while the mystery progresses at an incremental pace. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 Her songs are fleshed out with filigree and shaggy swing but remain as delicate and intimate as ever. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 Stewart wore her shaggy hair tossed to the side and accessorized with dark rimless sunglasses, high patent leather heels, and a boxy handbag. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024 This shaggy short bob is so stylish with the addition of razored curtain bangs. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2024 Ultimately, the researchers want to edit elephant DNA to incorporate traits that allowed mammoths to survive the cold, like shaggy hair, curved tusks and fat deposits. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 Lake Pleasant Regional Park The rolling hills above Lake Pleasant are often shaggy with bouquets of brittlebush. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 At a Los Angeles event honoring Latino creatives, the star topped off her one-shoulder dress with a shaggy wig. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shaggy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shaggy was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near shaggy

Cite this Entry

“Shaggy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaggy. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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 adverb
shagginess noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shaggy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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