1
as in jagged
having an uneven edge or outline
the Rocky Mountains cut an angular, ragged profile against the sky, in contrast to the rounded silhouette of the rolling, green Adirondack Mountains
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
finally convinced her to throw away her favorite pair of jeans, ragged from years of yard work
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3
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
she cut herself on the ragged edge of the tin can's lid
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4
as in raggedy
wearing torn or worn-out clothes
ragged and hungry refugees emerging from the jungle where they had been in hiding for weeks
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as in scolded
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ragged
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
My breath is nervous and ragged but my will determined.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ragged
Adjective
The movie begins in 1989, when Martin was just out of her teens and fighting in Toughwoman contests, and spans 22 years, providing all sorts of opportunities for ungainly period hairstyles, from a ragged pageboy to a curly mullet to a frizzy shag.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
My breath is nervous and ragged but my will determined.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
On that night in March, to the surprise of nobody, Arsenal ran their mid-table Premier League hosts ragged, beating them 5-1, with Henry and Freddie Ljungberg scoring twice, and Kolo Toure netting the other.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ragged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragged
Adjective
-
Viola Davis's wispy, jagged bangs are the perfect accessory to her bob.—
Elise Tabin,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
-
If your coat has a large or jagged tear a few inches long, seek out a professional to try repairing the damage.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Worn Washcloths or Towels Go through all your linens in the bathroom, and discard any that are old, stained, tattered, or smell weird.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Decked out in a purple velour tracksuit, layered necklaces, a tattered blonde wig, and a tiara, Jimmy is the cult leader to a small, depraved group of satanists who claim to be the son of the Devil himself.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Kuminga then saw a combination of injuries and uneven performances lead to lessened playing time before eventually falling out of the rotation altogether.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Yet access to the advanced financial skills required for these roles remains uneven.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Students sat in rows, making faces at each other, scolded by their teachers to behave.—
David Wilson,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders scolded the media on Sunday after the team’s close loss to the Buffalo Bills at home.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The street style roundup regular shrugged on a faded blue workman shirt—complete with a retro name-tag patch—over a navy pleated skirt and tank top for a chic outfit that was both effortless and effective.—
Freya Drohan,
InStyle,
20 Jan. 2026
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The upcoming Nike Air Max 95 OG Big Bubble Realtree features a Black/Dark Smoke Gray/Metallic Cool Gray colorway, which amounts to a nearly all-black suede, nubuck and mesh upper that’s accented with faded blacks and dark grays.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Surrounded by wild and rugged terrain, guests must ride an open-air Defender to their beach club, where plenty of rosé and lobster salads await.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
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Despite its extra ride height, the Outback manages to maintain its wagon-like feel (and most of its proportions) while staying true to the rugged reputation that its buyers have traditionally valued.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Michael Woroniecki lectured about Satan being a very powerful force.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
-
If someone senses they’re being lectured or criticized, their walls will go up, and the conversation will stall.—
Devon Kuntzman,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Clippers came into that game having won 13 of their past 15 games, including a rough one against the Washington Wizards on Monday.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Off-screen, Affleck has a slightly rougher star persona, while Damon’s can be a little more withdrawn and intellectual.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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