Definition

The condition of being messy or untidy in appearance.

Example

His scruffiness made him look unprofessional at the meeting.

Conversation

Have you noticed the scruffiness of my hair lately?

Yeah, it looks a bit wild!

I guess I should probably do something about that.

Maybe just a quick trim would help — nothing too fancy.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Scruffiness → It is formed from "scruffy" (from the dialectal English "scruff", meaning rough or unkempt) and the suffix "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "scruffiness" refers to the state of being scruffy or unkempt.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'scruffy' which describes something rough or unkempt, and remember that 'scruffiness' means the quality of being scruffy.

Visually Confused Words