What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scraggled
Example
She woke up with scraggled hair after a night of tossing and turning. [scraggled: adjective]
Example
The homeless man had scraggled clothes and an unshaven face. [scraggled: adjective]
Example
The garden was filled with scraggled bushes and weeds. [scraggled: adjective]
unkempt
Example
He showed up to the interview with unkempt hair and wrinkled clothes. [unkempt: adjective]
Example
The abandoned house had an unkempt yard and broken windows. [unkempt: adjective]
Example
The office was in an unkempt state with papers and files scattered everywhere. [unkempt: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unkempt is more commonly used than scraggled in everyday language. Unkempt is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while scraggled is less common and refers to a more specific type of messiness.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between scraggled and unkempt?
Both scraggled and unkempt are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.