WordGarden.ioscrawl
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /skrˈɔːl/
US
- /ˈskrɔl/
Meanings
Verb
to write something in a rough, messy, hurried way
to draw or mark something with rough, careless lines
Noun
messy handwriting or a hastily written note
Beyond the definition
Imagine a hurried note passed in class: hard to read, quickly written, and looking more rushed than neat. That's a scrawl. It describes writing that is so messy it can be difficult to read. You might see a scrawled message on a sticky note or a rushed signature on a document. Often, the feeling behind it matters more than the shape of the letters. Think of a note scratched into the dirt in a moment of panic; it's about urgency, not neat writing.
To scrawl means to write something quickly and carelessly, resulting in messy, illegible handwriting. It is more than just poor penmanship; it implies haste, distraction, or even desperation. The word evokes a sense of urgency, like someone jotting down a vital thought before it vanishes or leaving a frantic message under pressure.
You might find a scrawl on a scrap of paper, a bathroom stall, or the back of an envelope. For example, the sentence, "The detective found a scrawled note hidden in the suspect's pocket," suggests the message was written in secret or at high speed. As a noun, a "scrawl" refers to the messy writing itself: "His signature was nothing but an illegible scrawl."
Historically, the word is thought to be a blend of "sprawl" and "crawl," perfectly capturing how the letters seem to wander aimlessly across the page. While it often carries a slightly negative connotation—implying a lack of care or skill—a scrawl can also be deeply personal. It can reveal a writer's state of mind better than perfect cursive ever could. Think of a love note scrawled before catching a flight; it's the sentiment that matters, not the neatness. If the writing looks like a spider dipped in ink just walked across the paper, you're likely looking at a scrawl.
Examples
- 1
Quick contact
He scrawled his phone number on a napkin before leaving.
- 2
Graffiti
Someone had scrawled "Go home" across the fence in red paint.
- Patternscrawl + words across + surface
write them in large, messy letters from one side to the other
- 3
Quick note
She scrawled a quick note to say she'd be late.
- 4
Written directions
The directions were scrawled on the back of an envelope.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Handwriting noun
I could barely read his scrawl at the bottom of the form.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- scrawlnounverb
Forms
- scrawledpast tenseverbnoun
- scrawling-ing formverbnoun
- scrawlspluralnounverb