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
The ragged metallic roaring scream of a Boeing 727 ascending eastward, a high-pitched whine building to a thundering roar, fading to a drone. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025 The car screamed a ragged series of explosive pops. Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024 Again, this somewhat ragged rendition isn’t equal to the multi-layered studio version or live ones heard on bootlegs; in particular, the Stills and Young interplay from a Dallas 1968 show makes the Springfield sound like the true originators of the jam band concept. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2024 Carl Wanderer was sentenced to hang for killing the unnamed ragged stranger. Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ragged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragged
Adjective
  • As in so many shows about big conspiracies, Dope Thief’s pacing gets a bit jagged toward the end of its eight episodes.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Mix grains of cobalt, mined in Labrador, with potash, quarried in Saskatchewan, and whisks of beaver tail, all of it steeped over sharp, jagged Yukon ice.
    Scott Simon, NPR, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The other traditional party, the Liberal Party, has splintered between those who remain loyal to Zelaya and those who led the coup, including Mauricio Villeda, the presidential candidate who leads a tattered vestige of his party.
    Dana Frank, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2013
  • What if standing up to Trump is the very thing that saves the Liberal Party, and Trudeau’s tattered legacy?
    Talib Visram, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The main story is very strangely uneven, the routes and caves are often straight pathways with little in them, and none of it is really difficult at all.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The formula’s thicker consistency also smooths the nail out, filling in any ridges and uneven texture of the polish.
    Siena Gagliano, Allure, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Gray and faded whiskers may be changed to their natural color and even brown or black by using Buckingham dye – try it.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Groom indoor foliage to remove old leaves, faded flowers and declining portions.
    Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The ad campaign shows pizza on a beach, pizza in a rugged Utah stonescape, and pizza in an untrammeled field of snow.
    Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2025
  • But then, a week isn’t too long for a brigade of rugged MiG-29s to disperse as a precaution.
    David Axe, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Sony has also had a bit of a rough time with the PS5 Pro, a device which has had at least some measure of technical problems where at times, its upgrades are failing to impress or even on occasion, making some games look worse.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Below are the stocks that came up in our search: While shares of Tesla , which has an RSI of around 22, advanced more than 5% midday Tuesday, on track to snap a three-day losing streak, the stock has had a rough time in recent weeks.
    Sean Conlon, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Hurt In Minors, In Hall Of Fame A broken arm at age 19 while diving for a flyball in the minors turned a promising pitcher into a full-time outfielder who hit his way into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The most poignant of those messages came from safety Josh Metellus, who posted a broken heart emoji that indicated the Vikings were moving on from his best friend.
    Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 10 Mar. 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 24 Mar. 2025.

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