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
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
a collegiate rag that nearly got him sent down from Oxford
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of rag
Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
This weekend, the two will face off in England’s FA Cup, putting Chelsea’s half-decade business rollercoaster on the same field as Wrexham’s rags-to-riches rocket ride.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Holes and ragged edges on leaves are usually from snails, slugs, or tiny green worms.
– Though ugly, treat only when the damage is so extreme that the plant is truly dying.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rag
Noun
Once dry, the rag forms a hard material known as cultch, the grit on which oyster larvae attach.
—Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
This weekend, the two will face off in England’s FA Cup, putting Chelsea’s half-decade business rollercoaster on the same field as Wrexham’s rags-to-riches rocket ride.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
In November, Green spoke to PEOPLE at the 2025 CMA Awards in Nashville, and shared a similar story about his friends ragging on him for being crowned Sexiest Country Star Alive.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Holes and ragged edges on leaves are usually from snails, slugs, or tiny green worms.
– Though ugly, treat only when the damage is so extreme that the plant is truly dying.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rag
Verb
-
There was no one to scold me for lapping up the mixture like a cat to milk.—
Via Chronicle Books,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
At one point her mother, Ri Sol Ju, appears to gently scold her for some transgression as Kim watches with a broad smile.—
Jen Kwon,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cluelessly, the Biden administration lectured Israel about its military response.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
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Therefore, now is not the time to be lecturing our partners and allies.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded and admonished Givens, citing conduct that included allowing a staff member to impersonate her during a 2021 bond hearing and taking action in cases after she had been recused.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
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Days later, the House voted to reprimand Garcia after a fellow Democrat brought a censure resolution to the floor.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump officials blame the previous administration for leaving a backlog of complaints.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Video calls freeze, streams buffer, and suddenly everyone in the house is blaming the router.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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An ardent supporter of military action against Iran, Graham criticized Israel in a social media post on Sunday regarding the strikes on the oil facilities.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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Instead, federal health officials criticized Democrats broadly, arguing that blue states are participating in fraud and mismanagement of federal funds in public health programs.—
Angela Hart,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rag. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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