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bedraggled

adjective

be·​drag·​gled bi-ˈdra-gəld How to pronounce bedraggled (audio)
bē-
Synonyms of bedragglednext
1
: soiled and stained by or as if by trailing in mud
2
: left wet and limp by or as if by rain
3
: dilapidated
bedraggled buildings

Examples of bedraggled in a Sentence

She was bedraggled and exhausted. the cat looked rather funny, all bedraggled and fit to be tied after her bath
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Although some houseplants don’t mind dry air, low humidity levels put stress on certain tropical plants and ferns, and leave plants looking bedraggled, or, in the worst case, slowly kill them. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Dec. 2025 His bedraggled manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), arranges for a lifetime-achievement award to await him in Europe; his publicist Liz (Laura Dern) runs interference on the viral videos that start to leak out of a hapless Jay stumbling around train cars, looking confused in the unfamiliar environment. David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2025 Despite an innate gift for melodic beauty and a bedraggled voice that would rouse itself to startling intensity, he was often derailed by substance abuse issues and a deluge of releases that were clearly in need of an editor or A&R executive to prune. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025 Watering mums from above has a similar effect, leaving blooms bedraggled and dull and shortening the lifespan of the flowers. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bedraggled

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of bedraggle

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bedraggled was circa 1775

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Cite this Entry

“Bedraggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedraggled. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

bedraggled

adjective
be·​drag·​gled bi-ˈdrag-əld How to pronounce bedraggled (audio)
: limp, soggy, or dirty from or as if from rain or mud

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