rag 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈrag How to pronounce rag (audio)
Definition of ragnext
1
as in newspaper
a publication that appears at regular intervals the local rag publishes more gossip than news

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2
as in clothing
rags plural covering for the human body the girls showed up at the prom wearing their most elegant rags

Synonyms & Similar Words

rag

2 of 3

noun (2)

chiefly British
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke a collegiate rag that nearly got him sent down from Oxford

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rag

3 of 3

verb

as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings several readers called in to rag the editor for his paper's repeated grammatical lapses

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rag
Noun
Parton’s rags-to-riches tale reads like a classic country music story-song. — Rj Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The family soon moved to a one-bedroom cabin in the nearby town of Locust Ridge, a dwelling that figures proudly in Parton’s rags-to-riches lore. — Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
The city in the book is a strange hodgepodge of affluence and poverty, of shiny new shops and ragged old ruins. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026 If the edges look ragged with tan or white tips, your mower blade is at fault. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rag
  1. newspaper
  2. clothing
  3. prank
  4. scold
  5. periodical
  6. threads
  7. trick
  8. lecture
Noun
  • Local newspapers, foremost among them the New York Times, opened up their obituary pages to cover, in humanizing detail, the lives of ordinary people who died in the attacks.
    — Robert W. Snyder, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The 12 defendants, including Khalifa, were sentenced to death by hanging and fined 500,000 Egyptian pounds ($9,800) by Cairo’s Criminal Court, the al-Ahram newspaper reported.
    — Eyad Kourdi, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of newspaper
Noun
  • The family has several immediate needs, including clothing, food, personal items and help with temporary living expenses, Sharp said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The craft show attracted more than 300 artisans displaying handmade items, artwork, home décor, clothing, jewelry and gifts throughout downtown Frankfort, including paintings, yard art, wood carvings, suncatchers, candles and caramel apples.
    — Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of clothing
Noun
  • The prank came amid rumors about Stern’s impending retirement and the cancellation of his show.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Before class started, and the teacher had not yet arrived, students may have been clowning around in the room, making jokes, playing pranks, or talking loudly and inappropriately.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of prank
Verb
  • Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of scold
Noun
  • People who might be lucky to have a roof over their heads gathered there to read American books and periodicals, watch American movies, listen to lectures about America, tap their toes to jazz from America.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • It is anticipated that all IEEE periodicals will be included in the Integrity Hub screening by the end of this year.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
Definition of periodical
Noun
  • The system should be programmed to actively penalize source monopolies, forcing the engine to scrape a healthy mix of technical journalism, independent community forums (like Reddit threads), and video transcripts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Complete List On the bright side, Season 1 told largely a complete story with just a few loose threads left, so fans will not be left hanging too much by the cancellation.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of threads
Noun
  • The Cinderella dress that Kaitlyn Argyriou’s mother had sewn for her as a child and which Argyriou’s daughter, Avery, 4, had planned to wear trick-or-treating in Colorado Springs on Halloween.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The tips and tricks for maintaining hosiery that used to be passed down by family and friends are in danger of being lost to time and ever-changing fashion trends.
    — Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Especially for him in the same interview to be lecturing my party on democracy and norms.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Coach Hudson defends Ricky to Gerry’s face, but privately lectures his daughter about the optics of their close relationship as a female football coach and tells her to put some space between her and Chad (and unknowingly, Russ).
    — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of lecture

Phrases Containing rag

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rafts
rag
ragamuffin
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Cite this Entry

“Rag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rag. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rag

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