Synonyms of rag

rag 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈrag 

1

as in newspaper

a publication that appears at regular intervals

the local rag publishes more gossip than news

Synonyms & Similar Words

• newspaper
• periodical
• journal
• magazine
• book
• paper
• organ
• bulletin
• gazette
• mag
• serial
• zine
• newsletter
• review
• yearbook
• edition
• tabloid
• weekly
• diurnal
• daily
• sheet
• quarterly
• annual
• monthly
• bimonthly
• digest
• fanzine
• little magazine
• biweekly
• pictorial
• triweekly
• tab
• semiweekly
• slick
• semimonthly
• newsmagazine
• broadside
• newsweekly
• supplement
• extra

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

• clothing
• clothes
• threads
• wear
• dress
• apparel
• attire
• garments
• toggery
• rigging
• raiment
• costume
• weeds
• rig
• gear
• vesture
• clobber
• vestments
• duds
• togs
• habit
• ensemble
• costumery
• outfit
• vestiary
• garb
• habiliment(s)
• wearables
• couture
• underwear
• finery
• tatters
• trim
• pretties
• bravery
• frock
• wardrobe
• livery
• foofaraw
• tawdry
• regalia
• trumpery
• glad rags
• frippery
• caparison
• garderobe
• getup
• underclothes
• tailoring
• sportswear
• civvies
• outerwear
• haberdashery
• smallclothes
• gaiety
• gaudery
• array
• mufti
• guise
• ready-to-wear
• menswear
• nightclothes
• sleepwear
• loungewear
• activewear
• playwear
• prêt-à-porter

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prank
• trick
• gag
• caper
• joking
• adventure
• experience
• escapade
• practical joke
• antic
• dido
• waggery
• capriccio
• shavie
• frolic
• shine(s)
• roguery
• knavery
• kidding
• time
• game
• monkeyshine(s)
• lark
• performance
• feat
• stunt
• jest
• play
• skylarking
• deed
• hoax
• tomfoolery
• rowdyism
• teasing
• high jinks
• horseplay
• mission
• ploy
• roughhousing
• gambit
• maneuver
• ruse
• shenanigan(s)
• subterfuge
• whim
• whimsy
• deception
• fooling
• stratagem
• trickery
• vagary
• sham
• caprice
• delusion
• conceit
• wile
• deceit
• fancy
• hanky-panky
• fraud
• hoodwinking

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scold
• lecture
• reprimand
• blame
• criticize
• jaw
• flay
• berate
• upbraid
• call down
• chew out
• bawl out
• chastise
• rail (at or against)
• hammer
• attack
• mock
• baste
• ream (out)
• castigate
• dress down
• lambaste
• admonish
• rebuke
• reproach
• keelhaul
• rant (at)
• rate
• lay into
• fault
• score
• read the riot act (to)
• tongue-lash
• take to task
• chide
• knock
• pan
• slam
• lash
• scourge
• crucify
• excoriate
• vituperate
• disparage
• condemn
• remonstrate (with)
• revile
• ridicule
• harangue
• blast
• censure
• bad-mouth
• denounce
• scorn
• abuse
• assail
• scoff
• lace (into)
• belittle
• reprove
• dis
• reprehend
• put down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• sanction
• praise
• laud
• extol

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rag

Noun

Hard plastic toys without electronics or stickers can be soaked in a tub filled with hot, soapy water and washed with a rag. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026

As class 203 dives into a braiding craze, Noah finds himself without anything to braid until his teacher hands him a torn whiteboard rag. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 July 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

Phrases Containing rag

• chew the rag
• rag on