scabrous

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈskæb.rəs/ UK /ˈskeɪ.brəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #153495

Meanings

1

adj
dealing with indecent, salacious, or scandalous subject matter

The memoir became notorious for its scabrous anecdotes about public figures.
2

adj
rough, scaly, or covered with small projections

The plant's scabrous leaves felt harsh against her fingers.
3

adj
difficult, awkward, or requiring tact to handle

The negotiators avoided the most scabrous question until the final session.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · dealing with indecent,... salacious indecentrisquéscandalous

2 adj · rough, scaly, or covered... rough scaly abrasive

3 adj · difficult, awkward, or... thorny awkward difficult

Opposites

decent smooth straightforward

Word family

Forms scabrousness

Derived forms scabrouslyscabrousness

Related forms scab scabies scandalous

Etymology

From Latin scaber ("rough, scabby") and scabrōsus, related to scabere ("to scratch"). The physical sense "rough" developed figuratively into "difficult or hazardous" and then "indecent or scandalous."

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# scabrous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈskæb.rəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈskeɪ.brəs/
**Frequency rank:** 153495

## Meanings
1. dealing with indecent, salacious, or scandalous subject matter
2. rough, scaly, or covered with small projections
3. difficult, awkward, or requiring tact to handle

## Examples
- The memoir became notorious for its scabrous anecdotes about public figures.
- The plant's scabrous leaves felt harsh against her fingers.
- The negotiators avoided the most scabrous question until the final session.

## Synonyms
- salacious
- indecent
- rough
- scaly
- thorny

## Antonyms
- decent
- smooth
- straightforward

## Derived Forms
- scabrously
- scabrousness

## Related Forms
- scab
- scabies
- scandalous

## Etymology
From Latin scaber ("rough, scabby") and scabrōsus, related to scabere ("to scratch"). The physical sense "rough" developed figuratively into "difficult or hazardous" and then "indecent or scandalous."

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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