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stragglingly

stragglingly

9.5
In an uneven, untidy way that spreads out
  • adverb
  • /ˈstræɡlɪŋli/
translation icon : desigualmente
  • The parade moved stragglingly through the village as people joined at their own pace.

Examples

  • The children walked stragglingly behind their parents.

  • Vines climbed stragglingly up the fence, giving the garden a wild appearance.

  • The wildflowers grew stragglingly along the edge of the abandoned path.

  • The plants grew stragglingly across the garden.

  • The parade moved stragglingly through the village as people joined at their own pace.

  • The wildflowers grew stragglingly along the edge of the abandoned path.

  • Vines climbed stragglingly up the fence, giving the garden a wild appearance.

Synonyms

erratically
vsstragglingly
13 6.4

In a way that is not regular or easy to predict

refers to uneven, untidy spreading rather than unpredictable timing or behavior
unevenly
vsstragglingly
8 3.5

In a way that makes some parts different from others

is about messy, scattered arrangement rather than just unequal distribution
sloppily
vsstragglingly
5 2.9

In a careless, untidy way that makes things messy

describes scattered, uneven spreading rather than primarily poor care
irregularly
vsstragglingly
4 4.2

Happens at different times and not in a steady way

is used for messy, scattered spreading rather than merely lacking regularity
raggedly
vsstragglingly
2 4.9

In an uneven, rough way with sudden stops and starts

focuses on scattered, untidy spreading rather than mainly rough edges
spottily
vsstragglingly
1 7.9

In an uneven way that leaves some parts not covered

is instead used for untidy, scattered spreading across space not continuous
higgledy-piggledy
vsstragglingly
  • Informal
1 9.9

In a messy, mixed-up way with things in no order

is more about uneven spreading and untidiness rather than general chaos
dispersedly
vsstragglingly
6.5

In a scattered way across an area, not in one place

is about uneven, untidy spreading rather than only wide dispersion
patchily
vsstragglingly
6.6

In an uneven way so small parts are different

focuses more on messy, scattered spreading rather than only patchy presence

Antonyms

93 1.0

To do something in a tidy and careful way

26 3.7

In the same way across all parts or times

How Scattered

haphazardly
9 6.1
stragglingly
9.5
unevenly
8 3.5
loosely
19 2.6
tightly
166 1.0

Surface Forms

stragglingly positive

Morphology

stragglingly = straggling (transparent) = straggle + ing + ly

Formed by adding -ly to the adjective 'straggling' (itself from 'straggle'); the adverbial meaning 'in a straggling manner' is directly predictable.

Etymology

Stragglingly comes from straggle, a word like the simple word stray that means 'to wander away from a group'; imagine people falling behind a parade or plants growing in a loose, messy way. So, stragglingly describes doing something in a 'scattered' or 'uneven' way.