scrawl 1 of 2

verb

ˈskrȯl How to pronounce scrawl (audio)
Definition of scrawlnext
as in to scribble
to write or draw hastily or carelessly scrawled a quick note, stuck it in their mailbox, and hurried off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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scrawl

2 of 2

noun

as in scribble

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scrawl
Verb
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank early Sunday, setting fire to two mosques and scrawling graffiti on buildings, Palestinian officials said. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026 The cat had blood pouring from its mouth and was surrounded by arcane symbols scrawled on the walls, court documents show. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026
Noun
There are notebooks covered in Paulsen’s thin scrawl and play drawings everywhere. — Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 Who among us had a little pad on our nightstand, a stack of swollen notebooks beneath our bed, pages puffy with scrawl? — Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrawl
  1. scribble
  2. scratch
  3. write
  4. handwriting
Verb
  • The messages, scribbled on whatever scrap of paper a sender could find, often featured misspellings and shaky penmanship; many older residents of rural areas did not know how to read or write well, if at all.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • His father, Bongo, recorded with artists on Houston label Swishahouse, while Toliver began scribbling rhymes in school notebooks and making rudimentary recordings through a PlayStation microphone.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of scribble
Noun
  • Not only was there the initial flare-up, but now there were huge red scratches and hives.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Check the listed starting pitchers first; a late scratch can void or reprice some bets.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Jo also inherited hundreds of letters that Vincent wrote and received, most exchanged with Theo.
    — Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Following his release from jail, Archer published his prison diaries, carried on with his charity work and wrote more novels.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of write
Noun
  • Bahdanau was working with artificial neural networks, which had already shown promise in pattern-recognition tasks such as deciphering handwriting and identifying objects in photos.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Some handwriting experts wondered whether a lack of panache in penmanship was generational.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of handwriting

Browse Nearby Words

scratchy
scrawl
scrawled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scrawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrawl. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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