scalier; scaliest
2
: of or relating to scaly animals
3
: despicable, poor
A regular scaly old shop …—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens4
: infested with scale insects
scaly fruit
scaliness
noun
Examples of scaly in a Sentence
His skin was dry and scaly.
the snake's scaly skin was dry to the touch
Recent Examples on the Web
Those symptoms include anemia, loosened teeth that may fall out, bleeding under the skin, bruising, swollen legs, rough and scaly skin, dry and brittle hair that coils, and the re-opening of wounds that do not heal.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Pets, big or small, furry or scaly, can offer a one-of-a-kind comfort that families need from time to time.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, that means that the moisture barrier can't protect the skin from external aggressors and seal in moisture, contributing to the classic eczema symptoms of red, itchy, scaly, and dry skin.
—Deanna Pai, Allure, 20 Jan. 2026
Beneath its scaly skin the flesh is incredibly sweet, something like a cross between a pineapple, an apple and a banana – delicious.
—Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scaly
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Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Pets, big or small, furry or scaly, can offer a one-of-a-kind comfort that families need from time to time.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 10 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, that means that the moisture barrier can't protect the skin from external aggressors and seal in moisture, contributing to the classic eczema symptoms of red, itchy, scaly, and dry skin.
—Deanna Pai, Allure, 20 Jan. 2026
Beneath its scaly skin the flesh is incredibly sweet, something like a cross between a pineapple, an apple and a banana – delicious.
—Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scaly
Cite this Entry
“Scaly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scaly. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scaly
adjective
scalier; scaliest
1
a
: covered with, composed of, or resembling scale or scales
b
: flaky sense 2
scaly skin
2
: infested with scale insects
scaly fruit
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