scaly

adjective

ˈskā-lē 

scalier; scaliest

1

a

: covered with, composed of, or rich in scale or scales

b

: flaky

2

: of or relating to scaly animals

3

: despicable, poor

a regular scaly old shop

—Charles Dickens

4

: infested with scale insects

scaly fruit

scaliness noun

Synonyms

• scaled
• squamous

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

Other key ingredients like glycerin attract and pull water into the skin to keep it hydrated (as opposed to flaky or scaly). —Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025

Green Iguanas Resplendent in scaly beauty with vivid colors and rows of protective spines, the green iguana is one of several big lizards in Florida. —Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025

Tyrannosaurus rex, Deinonychus, Parasaurolophus and Pachyrhinosaurus – all your best scaly buddies are here. —John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025

The biters are too tiny to defend against, tucking into the various cracks and crevices of the dinosaur’s scaly skin, and there’s little an irritated dinosaur can do but try to alleviate the itch. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing scaly

• scaly anteater

Rhymes for scaly

• bailee
• bailie
• baily
• daily
• gaily
• gayly
• israeli
• ukulele

Kids Definition

scaly

adjective

ˈskā-lē 

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

Medical Definition

scaly

adjective

ˈskā-lē 

scalier; scaliest

: covered with or composed of scale or scales

dry scaly skin

scaliness noun