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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Joel Feder, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
Girlfriend runs on Ives’ ragged and muscular alto, which has the timbre of a lounge singer and the texture of kintsugi.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ragged
Adjective
And then they have been amped up in a way that still maintains some of that raw sort of ragged edge.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
Girlfriend runs on Ives’ ragged and muscular alto, which has the timbre of a lounge singer and the texture of kintsugi.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 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
-
Glover, for instance, was particularly captivated by the jagged topography along the moon’s terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Outside the window were snippets of jagged peaks.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Pieces of Maxey's tattered clothing and other evidence are being tested for animal DNA, with authorities believing the animal could be a bear, a mountain lion, or a dog, according to the outlet, which cited the Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office and Oklahoma Wildlife Services.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
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Repairing the agency’s tattered credibility The CDC has long been the world’s pre-eminent public health agency.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As an over-the-counter retinoid, retinol helps accelerate skin cell turnover, which can visibly improve uneven texture, fine lines, and discoloration over time.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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But the improvements were short-lived as rates rose significantly in March, driven by a series of uneven economic reports and a spike in geopolitical tensions and overseas conflicts.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the second player protested the contact, Nicholson scolded the player, according to one parent.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
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Other times, Rodriguez encouraged her to sleep or scolded the Sacramento mother when stress led to too many cigarettes.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If your current set is thin, faded or fraying, spring cleaning is the perfect excuse to replace them.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Deadheading faded blooms encourages new flowerheads.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Isolated by its beautiful, rugged mountains, West Virginia sits entirely within Appalachia and has long been listed at the bottom of a laundry list of failings, including poor health and a lack of education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Here, the sun cast stark, dramatic shadows across the moon’s steep cliffs, rugged ripples and seemingly bottomless craters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tyson Eckert, the fourteen-year-old, lectured about character, competence, confidence, capability, credibility, competitiveness, and courage.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Joanna Fabicon, who has lectured on contemporary children’s literature at UCLA, added that educators, librarians and publishers must all grapple with the allegations against Chávez and decide how to move forward.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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With climate change causing storms to be stronger and rougher than in the past, communities up and down the California coast are facing a similar challenge, as other aging wooden piers suffer damage, leaving cities facing large bills while the public clamors to keep the popular attractions open.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Using your fingers and the outside edges of your palms, press in any rough spots or remaining dry bits of dough.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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