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ragtag and bobtail

noun

Definition of ragtag and bobtailnext
as in masses
people looked down upon as ignorant and of the lowest class locals complained that rental housing would attract the ragtag and bobtail to their well-groomed suburb

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragtag and bobtail
  1. public
  2. people
  3. populace
  4. proletariat
  5. rabble
  6. trash
  7. rout
  8. scum
Noun
  • Despite communism’s collapse in 20th century Soviet bloc countries, the last decade has witnessed a surprising surge in interest in communism and socialism among the US public and journalists globally.
    — Luba Kassova, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The challenges, some fear, are overwhelming for a system beloved by the American public and monumental for preserving America’s legacy and natural beauty.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of people
Noun
  • In this world, Joe is the smartest guy in the room, and Camacho promises the populace that Joe will solve all America’s problems in one week.
    — Donald Liebenson, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Russia is impossibly far from the victory Putin imagined in February 2022—controlling the country’s whole territory and populace.
    — MICHAEL KIMMAGE, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of populace
Noun
  • All that loot pumped out of the Armenian proletariat, says the gaur, and for what.
    — Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Severin, on the other hand, represents the revolutionary proletariat.
    — JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Definition of proletariat
Noun
  • Abdul El-Sayed, a rabble-rousing populist and former public health official, just barely eked out a primary victory Tuesday in Michigan over a centrist rival who was the pick of Washington Democrats to keep a must-hold Senate seat.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Their tardiness, which saw the start delayed by half an hour, was continued on the field with India looking like a rabble in the face of the onslaught from Buttler and Brook.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of rabble
Noun
  • It will then be loaded up with trash and sent down to a fiery death in Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • These community governance groups rely on owner dues and assessments to cover shared amenities, like pools, trash collection, and lawn maintenance.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of trash
Noun
  • Rookie Gary Sanchez hit two more homers and drove in five runs to lead the New York Yankees to an 11-5 rout of the Tampa Bay Rays.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • But there would be no run-of-the-mill rout, such as last year’s 51-14 win over Eastern Washington, for instance.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of rout
Noun
  • If scale buildup, soap scum and mineral residue are the issue, a hard water shower filter will not address the root cause.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026
  • On stone, use a stone-safe scum remover instead and don’t improvise.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of scum
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.

Browse Nearby Words

ragtag
ragtag and bobtail
ragtop
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ragtag and bobtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragtag%20and%20bobtail. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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