ragged 1 of 2

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
In the clip, the small dog scuttles into the room clutching his ragged bear, which has a hole that has caused its stuffing to spill out. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025 These others can boast a ragged caliphate, closets full of Che T-shirts, and an upcoming Mission: Impossible movie, respectively. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025 The release’s first single is a ragged rendition of the band’s eponymous song, recorded, of course, at a U.K. studio called Manticore. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025 The square of white cloth was about to be sewn into a bigger pieces displaying political messages, but the ragged edges didn't neatly line up with the other pieces. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ragged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragged
Adjective
  • When Squid Game first flung us into its arena of despair, questioning the status quo was the series’ fuel, and its narrative rhythm had the jagged urgency of that initial run of Red Light, Green Light.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 June 2025
  • Another photo features a marshal with a long-range precision rifle mounted on a bipod, stationed on jagged ground with dramatic peaks in the backdrop.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Set in the year 3333 on a desolate alien world, players take on the role of the Swordsman, a somewhat blank slate character with minimalist features clad in a tattered cloak.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
  • And then, in close-up, a bulldozer turns over rubble, and a family photograph is glimpsed in the debris, a tattered symbol of what has been lost.
    Catherine Bray, Variety, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • Additionally, although each member of the crew has their own particular skillset, the time spent on individual characters is uneven, and a smaller cast would have likely made things more effective.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 June 2025
  • Moreover, the legal playing field itself can be quite uneven.
    Mark Berookim, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Staining not only revives faded wood but also helps protect it from sun, moisture and insects.
    Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
  • Select a faded flower and follow the stem down, cutting it 12 inches or more below the bloom, deep into the plant to encourage more long stems.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • Trent Frederic is another player who brings a rugged style to the game and can play all three forward positions.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • A lot of my book is about unlearning the tenets of American work culture, that rugged individualism often translates to just being plain old lonely.
    Maris Kreizman June 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Avoid scrubbing the microwave’s interior with rough materials like steel wool or abrasive sponges.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
  • Ransom Canyon star Josh Duhamel didn’t have a rough time getting to know the set of his new film Off the Grid because the actor lives off the grid in real-life.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Several broken waste bins were not fixed in a timely manner.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • The problem is worsened by the broken and outmoded state of the Oscars’ Best International Feature category, which lets foreign governments handpick their own submissions and launder their public images.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Some of Mangione's supporters have left messages of praise for him, while others have criticized the fundraising efforts.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Bo French, the chairman of the Tarrant County, Texas, GOP, criticized Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, alleging that an emphasis on DEI programs had undermined the military's effectiveness.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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