ragged 1 of 2

Definition of raggednext
1
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline the Rocky Mountains cut an angular, ragged profile against the sky, in contrast to the rounded silhouette of the rolling, green Adirondack Mountains

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2
3
4
as in raggedy
wearing torn or worn-out clothes ragged and hungry refugees emerging from the jungle where they had been in hiding for weeks

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ragged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rag

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ragged
Adjective
This will help avoid ragged grass tips. Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 11 June 2026 Although King reached rare air with the Bulls during Rose’s ascent, most of his tenure as a broadcaster was spent breathing life into ragged seasons. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
Verb
On that night in March, to the surprise of nobody, Arsenal ran their mid-table Premier League hosts ragged, beating them 5-1, with Henry and Freddie Ljungberg scoring twice, and Kolo Toure netting the other. Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ragged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragged
Adjective
  • Across Washington and Oregon, jagged walls of blackberry brambles choke out nearly every hiking trail, highway shoulder, and vacant lot in the region.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026
  • Why does Orange County have so many families living on the jagged edges of the local economy?
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • One-touch passing, feinting and ripping hard shots into a tattered net, each is super-charged by vivid daydreams of glory on the international stage.
    Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2026
  • The look was created from tattered bootleg championship shirts in blue, white and orange, which were sourced from vendors in NYC this week.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • If visible pores or uneven texture is a concern for you at all, this primer is the ultimate solution.
    Jenna Curcio, InStyle, 25 June 2026
  • As with that earlier boom-and-bust cycle, the AI landscape is likely to yield uneven outcomes, according to Qian Wang, global head of capital market research at Vanguard, and senior global economist Kevin Khang.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • This time, however, Charlotte promptly scolded him for his untoward behavior.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 13 June 2026
  • Four years ago, Infantino scolded critics during a news conference ahead of the opener in Qatar.
    Carlos Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun, the film tracks a faded first-generation K-pop co-ed dance trio making a reckless attempt to stage a comeback two decades after a plagiarism scandal dissolved their careers.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 June 2026
  • The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • In the midst of the rugged match, Sweden lost one of its top players to a non-contact injury.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • The search for Gracie the giraffe, missing in Texas, hit its two-week mark on June 25 as the manager of her ranch is continuing to scour rugged terrain from the ground and sky.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, and has taught and lectured at many academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • It was also being lectured by people who presented a formulaic perspective on a complicated future that the class of 2026 is already navigating.
    Ann Kirschner, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • After a couple of rough shooting nights against Minnesota and Las Vegas, the Valkyries found their groove.
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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