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
Vekić’s close-to-unplayable level dropped and her decision-making grew ragged, allowing Raducanu to gain a foothold with support from a very full and very partisan Andy Murray Arena. James Hansen, New York Times, 14 June 2026 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
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
  • Located in Florina, in northwestern Greece, the region lies on a high plateau ringed by jagged peaks, with freshwater lakes below.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • An important entry to the New Queer Cinema canon, Kar-wai’s drama is passionate, moody, and deeply evocative, tracing the jagged edges of an on-again, off-again romance in seedy 1990s Buenos Aires.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • There was a phone book, camera film canisters, metal pins, the tattered remains of a baseball cap and an orange t-shirt with the outline of a giant thumbs up.
    Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026
  • His main challenge will be to overcome Starmer's inability to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • If visible pores or uneven texture is a concern for you at all, this primer is the ultimate solution.
    Jenna Curcio, InStyle, 25 June 2026
  • As with that earlier boom-and-bust cycle, the AI landscape is likely to yield uneven outcomes, according to Qian Wang, global head of capital market research at Vanguard, and senior global economist Kevin Khang.
    Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Davis remembered once being scolded as a teenager by her mother after being caught speaking poorly of a classmate.
    Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
  • Well versed in what the lunar surface truly offers, Britt scolded a number of arty accounts of lunar territory promulgated by both NASA and commercial space ventures.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun, the film tracks a faded first-generation K-pop co-ed dance trio making a reckless attempt to stage a comeback two decades after a plagiarism scandal dissolved their careers.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 June 2026
  • The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • In the midst of the rugged match, Sweden lost one of its top players to a non-contact injury.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • The search for Gracie the giraffe, missing in Texas, hit its two-week mark on June 25 as the manager of her ranch is continuing to scour rugged terrain from the ground and sky.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 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
  • Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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