Definition of raggednext
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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2
3
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ragged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rag

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 ragged
Adjective
Until the late 1970s, when the Sandinistas were still a ragged, left-wing guerrilla movement, the United States provided guns, money and military training to the right-wing political dynasty that ruled Nicaragua with an iron fist. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Dull blades leave tears and ragged ends that cause grass blades to wither and bleach out more quickly. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
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
  • John Homme sings at the jagged, forlorn beginning of the ninth Queens of the Stone Age album.
    — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
  • As with his previous films, Iñárritu tells his story using scenes out of order so that the pieces fall together in a jagged form that heightens the tension.
    — Ray Bennett, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Corroded jewelry and the tattered remnants of ancient clothing only tell part of a much larger story, but sometimes an object offers up a bit more detail.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Victoria Justice dressed up for her Halloween party in a distressed zombie look featuring a tattered black minidress and edgy boots.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • However, sodium metal is highly reactive, and its interaction with conventional liquid electrolytes can cause unwanted chemical reactions and uneven metal deposits called dendrites.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Hiring in 2026 has resulted in an uneven demographic shift in the workforce, according to survey estimates analyzed by the Post.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • For example, just recently, Musk publicly scolded the CEO of Delta in a scorching post on X when the airline did not partner with Starlink to provide Wi-Fi on Delta flights.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But leaders seeking to encourage tourism scolded residents who warned of the danger on social media.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Investigators described him as a white male in his late 50s, with a scruffy, gray beard who was wearing a faded blue baseball cap.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The landscape flowed in ridges and mountains of faded yellow and whisper pink, where welwitschia–large, low-lying plants that live to be hundreds of years old–sprawled like relics from a Dune film set.
    — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This one springs from the rugged land where the home is located and pays homage to its setting through its design.
    — Francesca Longoni, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Not far from Dublin’s Trinity College are the offices of Wild Atlantic Pictures, named after the 1,500-mile stretch of western Ireland’s rugged coastline.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Earhart lectured at the school before embarking on her final flight.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Luann patiently attempts to explain that the women don’t like being lectured to about their business affairs, only for Vicki to abruptly answer a phone call mid-conversation.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • An Australian man survived more than two months lost at sea in 2023 with his dog Bella after rough seas damaged their boat and its electronics system.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • However, neither rating guarantees that a folding screen or hinge will survive years of rough treatment.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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