scrappiness

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableinformalapproving

   A determined, combative spirit in which someone keeps fighting hard despite being smaller, weaker or less favored.

   Grammar: Used without a: her scrappiness won the match.

   Patterns

   • the scrappiness of someone
   • show scrappiness

   The team's scrappiness carried them past far better opponents.

   She admired his scrappiness in the face of repeated setbacks.

   What the startup lacks in money, it makes up for in scrappiness.

2. 2noununcountabledisapproving

   The quality of being untidy, disorganized or made up of mismatched pieces.

   Grammar: Often critical: the scrappiness of the first draft.

   Patterns

   • the scrappiness of something

   The scrappiness of the first half cost them the game.

   I was embarrassed by the scrappiness of my notes.

   Critics noted the scrappiness of the production.

Common combinations

show scrappiness

The rookie showed scrappiness in every game.

underdog scrappiness

Their underdog scrappiness won the crowd over.

scrappiness and grit

The coach praised their scrappiness and grit.

lack of scrappiness

The loss came from a lack of scrappiness.

Synonyms and how they differ

grit

Grit means steady toughness, while scrappiness adds a hint of feisty, fighting energy.

pluck

Pluck suggests courage in the face of difficulty without the aggressive edge of scrappiness.

tenacity

Tenacity is more formal and focuses on refusing to let go rather than on fighting.

sloppiness

Sloppiness fits the second meaning, carelessness, but has no positive sense.

Opposites

Word family

scrappy adjective

determined and quick to fight, or made of scraps

scrap noun

a small piece, or a fight

scrap verb

to throw away or to fight

scrappily adverb

in a scrappy way

Commonly confused: scrappiness or scrappiness vs. scrapping?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “scrappiness”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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