ragged

adjective

rag·​ged ˈra-gəd How to pronounce ragged (audio)
1
: roughly unkempt
2
: having an irregular edge or outline
3
a
: torn or worn to tatters
b
: worn-out from stress and strain
ran herself ragged
4
: wearing tattered clothes
5
a
b
: executed in an irregular or uneven manner
c
of a sound : harsh, dissonant
raggedly adverb
raggedness noun

Examples of ragged in a Sentence

a boy in ragged jeans You look a little ragged—did you have a rough week?
Recent Examples on the Web Winslet’s Mare is a ragged reflection of the weary town itself. Erik Kain, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Taken by amateurs with the cameras of their day, the photos often have a ragged beauty to them, compared with today’s digital perfection, and also a special intimacy. Jack Nicas, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 What Gerwig captured — and, remarkably, was permitted by Mattel to capture — is the ragged, inspiring way that many little girls have played with their Barbie dolls over time. M.g. Lord, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2024 Soon, December will be upon us in all its ragged, snowy, winter glory. Erik Kain, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Nail artists love this soothing Julep oil for ragged cuticles, while Sally Hansen's renowned dissolver is great for clearing up jagged nail beds without needing cuticle cutters. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 11 Oct. 2023 Despite the multivalent talents of Ives and Mantello, though, the piece, finished without Sondheim, cannot mend the ragged edge torn by his absence. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2023 Add serious collective drug abuse into the mix and everyone’s life tended to become a ragged, 24/7 acting-out. Ian Penman, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023 Each video image’s statement is slightly out of sync with the others, so as to yield a ragged chorus. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ragged.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ragged was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ragged

Cite this Entry

“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ragged. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ragged

adjective
rag·​ged ˈrag-əd How to pronounce ragged (audio)
1
: having a rough or uneven edge or outline
ragged cliffs
2
a
: torn or worn to or as if to tatters
a ragged dress
b
: wearing tattered clothes
a ragged child
3
: done in an uneven way
a ragged performance
raggedly adverb
raggedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ragged

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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