ragged 1 of 2

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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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
Although King reached rare air with the Bulls during Rose’s ascent, most of his tenure as a broadcaster was spent breathing life into ragged seasons. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 Kristen Stewart has sported every short hairstyle worth mentioning, but this impossibly ragged, exaggerated mullet feels like the correct choice for a grunge girl summer. Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 27 May 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
  • Irregular, edges catch oil differently, crisping into jagged, craggly bits while softer interior pockets hold onto dressing, broth, or sauce—the kind of varied texture that makes each bite its own.
    Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
  • As pests crawl through it, its jagged edges scrape their exoskeletons, dehydrating and killing them.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Their vibrant appendages become tattered and dull.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
  • Nichols organized a day where 26 volunteers came together to replace American tattered and torn flags with brand new ones, including David and Sue Hornbrook's torn flag.
    Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Stowers getting regular first base work Stowers is beginning to produce after his season got off to an uneven start following to a pair of hamstring injuries in spring training.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
  • The president says market gains helped guide his push to reach a deal with Iran, even as critics warn that stocks are an uneven measure of national interest.
    Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • This time, however, Charlotte promptly scolded him for his untoward behavior.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 13 June 2026
  • Four years ago, Infantino scolded critics during a news conference ahead of the opener in Qatar.
    Carlos Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Police say that the suspect's vehicle has a faded convertible top, no rear window, chrome-and-red European-style taillights and chrome rims.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 16 June 2026
  • Next to a limp rack of sleeveless tops stands a postapocalyptic forager-warrior mannequin in jeans, a faded plaid shirt, and a black baseball cap from the plus-size-women’s brand Torrid.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • Travelers experience Marlborough wine country, Kaikoura wildlife, the Southern Alps, the rugged West Coast, and Queenstown.
    Steve Madgwick, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026
  • For anyone venturing off-the-grid or out deep in nature, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a top contender as a rugged, adventure-suitable wearable.
    Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, and has taught and lectured at many academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • It was also being lectured by people who presented a formulaic perspective on a complicated future that the class of 2026 is already navigating.
    Ann Kirschner, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • For as rough as the lineup continued to look, the injuries are yet again piling up on the pitching side.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
  • This gives you a rough idea of how much of each ingredient is contained in a food.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 17 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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