scurvy
1 of 2noun
scur·vy ˈskər-vē 
: a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and a bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes
scurvy
2 of 2adjective
: arousing disgust or scorn : contemptible, despicable
a scurvy trick
scurvily
ˈskər-və-lē
adverb scurviness
ˈskər-vē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
Adjective
- cheap
- contemptible
- cruddy
- deplorable
- despicable
- dirty
- grubby
- lame
- lousy
- mean
- nasty
- paltry
- pitiable
- pitiful
- ratty
- scabby
- scummy
- sneaking
- sorry
- wretched
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective after winning the lottery, she was beset by a whole scurvy swarm of con artists, ne'er-do-wells, and hangers-on
Recent Examples on the Web
Kate Siber, Outside Online, 18 Jan. 2018 On top of that, scurvy was beginning to ravage the men. Julian Sancton, Time, 12 May 2021 Peggy’s father, physician Alfred Hess, researched the nutritional value of fresh food and is credited in a Nobel Prize for his contributions to work to prevent scurvy and rickets. oregonlive, 19 May 2022 Drag privation out long enough, and scurvy’s victims are stripped of their ability to learn and feel and remember. Bathsheba Demuth, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2021 Instead of depicting what was most likely a slow, painful collapse into starvation and scurvy, the show’s creators inflict a supernatural doom on Franklin and his men. Eva Holland, Outside Online, 30 Mar. 2022 His men’s feet swelled and skin blackened from scurvy. Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Mar. 2022 Bred to be early-maturing, compact, efficient under low light, resilient in low-pressure environments, and to pack three times the Vitamin C of an orange to prevent scurvy. Melanie Canales, Wired, 21 Dec. 2021 Britain’s soldiers and sailors died by the hundreds from yellow fever and scurvy. Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2021 Carlotta Dotto, CNN, 21 July 2022 During the 18th century, more British soldiers died from scurvy than in battle. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 If left unchecked, scurvy leads to teeth falling out, severe pain and death. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 King and his colleagues isolated a crystalline substance, identified and later synthesized vitamin C, leading to new ways to prevent related diseases, such as scurvy. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2022 James Lind conducted his scurvy trial on a British ship during the War of Austrian Succession. Tom Moon, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 Of all the horrors of a 19th-century European voyage to the Arctic—noses and cheeks turned necrotic by frostbite, snow blindness, sea madness, broken bones badly knit—perhaps most ghastly was scurvy. Bathsheba Demuth, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2021 Like scurvy, beriberi can be found in people who lack fresh food. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2021 The oils in caribou, fish, walrus, seal, and other meats the Inuit ate contain enough vitamin c for humans to keep scurvy at bay, as long as they’re not overcooked. Julian Sancton, Time, 12 May 2021 See More
Noun
Three men went for help by dogsled over the ocean ice, some 100 miles south to Siberia, leaving Blackjack on her own to care for the remaining expedition member, Lorne Knight, who was bedridden with scurvy. Kate Siber, Outside Online, 18 Jan. 2018 On top of that, scurvy was beginning to ravage the men. Julian Sancton, Time, 12 May 2021 Peggy’s father, physician Alfred Hess, researched the nutritional value of fresh food and is credited in a Nobel Prize for his contributions to work to prevent scurvy and rickets. oregonlive, 19 May 2022 Drag privation out long enough, and scurvy’s victims are stripped of their ability to learn and feel and remember. Bathsheba Demuth, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2021 Instead of depicting what was most likely a slow, painful collapse into starvation and scurvy, the show’s creators inflict a supernatural doom on Franklin and his men. Eva Holland, Outside Online, 30 Mar. 2022 His men’s feet swelled and skin blackened from scurvy. Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Mar. 2022 Bred to be early-maturing, compact, efficient under low light, resilient in low-pressure environments, and to pack three times the Vitamin C of an orange to prevent scurvy. Melanie Canales, Wired, 21 Dec. 2021 Britain’s soldiers and sailors died by the hundreds from yellow fever and scurvy. Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2021 Adjective
Brought here in the early Middle Ages during trade with the Arabs, the lemons were once used by sailors, especially in Northern Europe, to fight scurvy. Carlotta Dotto, CNN, 21 July 2022 During the 18th century, more British soldiers died from scurvy than in battle. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 If left unchecked, scurvy leads to teeth falling out, severe pain and death. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 King and his colleagues isolated a crystalline substance, identified and later synthesized vitamin C, leading to new ways to prevent related diseases, such as scurvy. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2022 James Lind conducted his scurvy trial on a British ship during the War of Austrian Succession. Tom Moon, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 Of all the horrors of a 19th-century European voyage to the Arctic—noses and cheeks turned necrotic by frostbite, snow blindness, sea madness, broken bones badly knit—perhaps most ghastly was scurvy. Bathsheba Demuth, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2021 Like scurvy, beriberi can be found in people who lack fresh food. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2021 The oils in caribou, fish, walrus, seal, and other meats the Inuit ate contain enough vitamin c for humans to keep scurvy at bay, as long as they’re not overcooked. Julian Sancton, Time, 12 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
scurf
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1565, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1579, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing scurvy
Kids Definition
scurvy 1 of 2
noun
scur·vy ˈskər-vē
: a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C in which the teeth loosen, the gums soften, and there is bleeding under the skin
scurvy
2 of 2adjective
scurvier; scurviest
: mean entry 2 sense 1, contemptible
a scurvy trick
Medical Definition
scurvy
noun
scur·vy ˈskər-vē
plural scurvies
: a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes
called also scorbutus
scurvy
adjective
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust after winning the lottery, she was beset by a whole scurvy swarm of con artists, ne'er-do-wells, and hangers-on Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lame
- pitiful
- wretched
- nasty
- cheap
- dirty
- mean
- disgusting
- sneaking
- scabby
- hateful
- contemptible
- deplorable
- despicable
- vile
- sorry
- pitiable
- lousy
- loathsome
- grubby
- ratty
- abominable
- revolting
- paltry
- detestable
- odious
- abhorrent
- disgraceful
- discreditable
- scummy
- ignominious
- disreputable
- cruddy
- repulsive
- shameful
- repugnant
- execrable
- ignoble
- dishonorable
- craven
- sordid
- reptilian
- dastardly
- unscrupulous
- shabby
- unprincipled
- squalid
- revulsive
- base
- condemnable
- cowardly
- unethical
- reprehensible
- censurable
- low
- blamable
- reproachable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- admirable
- meritorious
- laudable
- creditable
- praiseworthy
- noble
- redoubtable
- honorable
- commendable
- scrupulous
- good
- moral
- righteous
- virtuous
- honest
- reputable
- ethical
- right
- upright
- high-minded
- right-minded
- principled
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of scurvy are contemptible, despicable, pitiable, and sorry. While all these words mean "arousing or deserving scorn," scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.
a scurvy crew of hangers-on
The synonyms contemptible and scurvy are sometimes interchangeable, but contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.
a contemptible liar
The words despicable and scurvy can be used in similar contexts, but despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.
a despicable crime
The words pitiable and scurvy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.
a pitiable attempt at tragedy
In some situations, the words sorry and scurvy are roughly equivalent. However, sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.
this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car