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

The group’s rags to riches story and music was depicted and celebrated in the hit Broadway stage musical Jersey Boys and its subsequent 2014 film adaptation directed by Clint Eastwood. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026

During her riches-to-rags period in the mid-1990s, fame dwindled as did her circle of friends. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 14 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

Phrases Containing rag

• chew the rag
• rag on