scruffiness
1
4.5
- noun
- /ˈskrʌfɪnəs/
:
desaliño
- The relevant factors for Einstein are that 1) he was the 20th century's reigning scientific genius and is thus entitled to a major adjustment upwards for the genius factor; 2) he wore a moustache, thus the downward adjustment for scruffiness is half that of fully bearded men.
Examples
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But there wasn't much of an indie film scene yet in 1982, and both the film's scruffiness and its particular kind of black comedy have become commonplace since.
Blog text (11) -
Despite her scruffiness, she still managed to exude a certain charm.
-
At last, I am no longer alone in my scruffiness!
Blog text (14) -
Your beard scruffiness is not any different today than it was that day.
-
Scruffiness of any kind is deplorable.
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Issue Five of Beautiful Scruffiness popped into my inbox this morning.
Blog text (26) -
The cues used to identify a script as male were scruffiness, a spiky (rather than rounded) style, and not joined up.
Academic text (2002) -
He marked anew the scruffiness of the ill-favored specimens just ahead.
Fiction book (1997) -
As usual, Jilly's casual scruffiness made Heather feel overdressed, for all that she was only wearing cotton pants and a blouse, nothing fancy.
Fiction book (1997) -
His scruffiness made him look unprofessional for the job interview.
Synonyms
4
1.6
A situation when things are untidy and hard to find
1
6.1
A state of looking old, worn, or dirty
1
2.5
Mess and things not in order in a place
1
8.3
Being untidy, dirty, and careless about clothes or work
1
1.0
Not being clean because it has mud, dust or stains
1
7.2
An untidy, messy look of hair, clothes, or a room
A state of being messy and untidy
A state when things are untidy and not cared for
A lack of order that makes places or things messy
A state where clothes or things are torn and very worn
Being dirty and shabby in appearance because of old or untidy clothes
Antonyms
How Messy
Surface Forms
Morphology
scruffiness = scruffy (transparent) = scruff + y + ness
The noun is a direct nominalization of the adjective 'scruffy' (derived from 'scruff'), so its meaning is clearly built from the base.
Etymology
Scruffiness comes from scruff, a word for the rough area at the 'back of the neck' and for a ragged or untidy spot, so imagine holding a kitten by the scruff where the fur is loose and messy. So scruffiness means the quality of being untidy, messy, or shabby.