Straggly describes something that grows in a loose, untidy way — spreading out in different directions, thin in places, with gaps, nothing neat about it. It is used most often of hair, beards, plants and hedges. A straggly beard is one with thin patches, a few long hairs going their own way; a straggly rose bush is one with long bare stems shooting out instead of a full round shape. The feeling is mildly negative but not cruel — it says untidy, weak, needing a cut, rather than ugly. It is a good honest describing word for things that grew without anyone looking after them. You will also meet the very close word straggling, which does the same job and can additionally describe a line of people spread out along a road. Straggly is the more everyday of the two, and it is the one you want for hair and plants. Both come from the verb straggle, to spread out untidily.

（頭髮、鬍子、植物）稀疏雜亂的、東一撮西一撮的。台灣形容頭髮多半說「毛毛躁躁的」「亂糟糟又稀疏」；形容植物說「長得亂七八糟」「枝條亂竄」。