bedraggled 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈdra-gəld How to pronounce bedraggled (audio)
Definition of bedragglednext
1
as in dripping
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water the cat looked rather funny, all bedraggled and fit to be tied after her bath

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2
as in filthy
not clean found flood victims in bedraggled clothes

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bedraggled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of bedraggle
as in wet
to make wet I was so bedraggled by the relentless rain that I couldn't wait to get into some dry clothes

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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 bedraggled
Adjective
The fairy-tale qualities continue as Betty shows off the contents of her bedraggled herb garden to her new ward, plucking out an edible flower for Laura to sample. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026 As the bedraggled salesman Willy Loman, Peter Jacobson emotes a lot with his hands. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026 Another volunteer who also wants in, Ingrid (Haley Lu Richardson), is a bedraggled punk wearing a ratty princess costume for reasons also to be disclosed. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026 England’s Ashes with the ball ended with Carse, Josh Tongue, a bedraggled Matthew Potts and part-time spinners Bethell and Will Jacks bowling Australia out for 567, their highest score of the series. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bedraggled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedraggled
  1. dripping
  2. filthy
  3. wet
  4. saturated
  5. blackened
  6. drowned
  7. washed
  8. stained
Adjective
  • Dodger Stadium is dripping in lore, from Kirk Gibson’s legendary walk-off home run in 1988 to more history, like Shohei Ohtani playing perhaps the greatest game ever last postseason.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Wash your hands at the hookah station handwash sink or the ware washing area handwash sink and you would be left with dripping hands.
    — David J. Neal July 10, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Definition of dripping
Adjective
  • Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of filthy
Verb
  • Reduce irrigation to only once or twice a week to wet the soil to help control this problem.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
  • The mountain thunderstorms are expected to continue Monday and Tuesday but should be accompanied by wetting rains that dampen fire risk, with about a tenth of an inch of precipitation, Molina said.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of wet
Adjective
  • Both are high in total and saturated fat, but hamburgers contain slightly more.
    — Lauren Manaker MS, Health, 14 July 2026
  • Inspired by the rich cobalt hue long created by Yves Klein, Cold Picnic's International Yves rug delivers a saturated dose of color while still playing nicely with a neutral palette.
    — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2026
Definition of saturated
Adjective
  • The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of blackened
Verb
  • There, deputies discovered that Bland had drowned her daughter Emii in a bathtub, according to an arrest report.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • The 18-year-old drowned in April after jumping off a railroad track bridge at Lake Ray Hubbard, about 15 miles east of downtown Dallas.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of drowned
Adjective
  • Michigan health officials recommend purchasing whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed lettuce; discarding outer layers of lettuce; and washing inner leaves.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
  • The post said the restaurant is soaking and washing produce again, even if the lettuce and spinach are pre-washed but not bagged.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of washed
Adjective
  • Everything from the casting (male dancers, internet faves, and very few actual models) to the scenery (a 191-year-old venue with plenty of stained glass) to the ambiance (candlelit, with lots of bows and florals) embodied the brand's quintessential mix of romance, community, and nostalgia.
    — Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 June 2026
  • Spread the mixture on the stained area; leave it for 15 minutes before wiping it away with a microfiber cloth.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 June 2026
Definition of stained

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Cite this Entry

“Bedraggled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedraggled. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bedraggled

Nglish: Translation of bedraggled for Spanish Speakers

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