1
as in newspaper
a publication that appears at regular intervals
the local rag publishes more gossip than news
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2
as in clothing
rags plural
covering for the human body
the girls showed up at the prom wearing their most elegant rags
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as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
a collegiate rag that nearly got him sent down from Oxford
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as in to scold
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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rag
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
The colorful rag rugs were woven by hand in a nearby village.
—Ann Abel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Andrea Kane, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
Running myself ragged trying to catch up rarely ends well for my immune system and the shutdown method just makes matters worse.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rag 
Noun
Schwimmer aligned with the Haganah, the Jewish underground paramilitary, and put together a rag tag group of WWII vets who defied an American embargo to smuggle 125 military planes and more than 50,000 weapons to Palestine.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
The colorful rag rugs were woven by hand in a nearby village.
—Ann Abel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Swap selflessness for sturdy leadership Running yourself ragged to please everyone is not healthy.
—Andrea Kane, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024
Running myself ragged trying to catch up rarely ends well for my immune system and the shutdown method just makes matters worse.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rag
Verb
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The Senate hauled Live Nation’s president and CFO in for a public scolding.Allison Morrow, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
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The New York Times reported that Hegseth’s mother had sent him an email scolding him for abusing women.Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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We’re either lectured on the history of our own struggle, or appealed to with dire fearmongering and empty promises while our cries fall on deaf ears.Derrick Johnson, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
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An increasingly jealous Seth Rollins lectured Sami Zayn about teaming with Roman Reigns after both of them worked so hard to end the Bloodline.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Lawmakers also made calls for the House Ethics Committee to look into the matter and demanded that Higgins be formally reprimanded. 2024 Presidential Election:When is the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance?Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
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The Democratic chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee reprimanded the heads of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security for failing to appear for an annual hearing.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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President-elect Donald Trump called for nonintervention in Syria, blaming the escalating situation on former President Barack Obama.Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Dec. 2024
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Erdogan appeared to blame the developments on Assad’s refusal to enter a dialogue with Turkey.Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Mangione was found with a three-page handwritten manifesto criticizing the U.S. healthcare system.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Many people made public statements in support of Thompson, his family, and the capture of his killer, but others on social media celebrated the demise of a powerful figure in an industry often criticized for its denials of healthcare coverage.Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near rag
Cite this Entry
“Rag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rag. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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