ratty

adjective

rat·​ty ˈra-tē How to pronounce ratty (audio)
rattier; rattiest
1
a
: infested with rats
b
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a rat
2
: shabby, unkempt
a ratty brown overcoatJohn Lardner
3
b
: irritable
feeling ratty as hellRichard Bissell

Examples of ratty in a Sentence

Those shoes are getting pretty ratty. some ratty old magazines were the only reading material in the mountaintop cabin
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
What our gifter says: This is the perfect upgrade for the grandad who’s been carrying the same ratty wallet since the ’90s. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024 The Best Pajamas for Lounging and Sleeping Give your ratty old T-shirt and sweats the night off. Sarah Madaus, SELF, 22 Oct. 2024 The Best Pajamas for Lounging and Sleeping Give your ratty old T-shirt and sweats the night off. 17 of the Highest Rated Sheet Sets on Amazon Under $40 Snuggle up. Malia Griggs, SELF, 18 Oct. 2024 The room looks appropriately ratty: the floor is scuffed, the radiator covered in thick grime, and someone seems to have started, with impatient streaks, to paint one of the walls. Benjamin Moser, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ratty 

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ratty was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near ratty

Cite this Entry

“Ratty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratty. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ratty

adjective
rat·​ty ˈrat-ē How to pronounce ratty (audio)
rattier; rattiest
1
a
: full of rats
ratty dockside warehouses
b
: of or relating to rats
2
: shabby sense 2a
a ratty old sweater

More from Merriam-Webster on ratty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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