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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ragged
Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
Helena reached the microlight, adjusted her ponytail, and then climbed into the back seat, as the birds flew in ragged circles nearby.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ragged
Adjective
Is there something about the needy Anja and her ragged child that the barren Isabell responds to?
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
Helena reached the microlight, adjusted her ponytail, and then climbed into the back seat, as the birds flew in ragged circles nearby.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ragged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragged
Adjective
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The result of billions of years of micrometeorite impacts on the lunar surface and lack of water on the Moon has left this dust with jagged, razor-sharp shapes and the constant bombardment by cosmic rays has given each particle an electrostatic charge.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
1 Apr. 2025
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Rescue workers in other parts of the country dug through piles of twisted rebar and jagged concrete where buildings had been destroyed.—
Sui-Lee Wee,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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The airflow also seemed uneven, requiring trays to be rotated during the dehydrating process.—
Jordan Liberty Phillips,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2025
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But also undeniable is the Heat receiving tangible depth from the Plan B trade with Butler, depth that arguably had previously been lacking amid the uneven seasons of Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr., as well as depth compromised by the broken hand of Nikola Jovic.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Notably, a very faded painting of the crucifixion scene with Jesus on the cross was also uncovered, the image of his crown of thorns sticking out from an orange and yellow backdrop.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
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Gap High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans These wide-leg jeans are designed in a light blue wash with whiskered and faded details, and flared, bell-like hems.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Average or above skaters who can make plays and contribute to the rugged side of the game.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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This ceramic vase has a rugged, natural matte texture and measures 14.4 inches high, so it’s bound to be a statement piece on your table, mantle, etc.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This is his first-person account of how a rough start after high school eventually led to a job at The Star and a redemptive moment while on assignment.—
Dominick Williams,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
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My strands were very soft post-wash and there was no oil or frizzy, rough texture post-wash.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This was mostly used when the group was building night nests—platforms made high in the trees out of broken branches, sometimes lined with leaves.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2025
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This was true of Fury (2015) as well, his brutal and gruesome war drama featuring Brad Pitt as a tank commander in the final days of World War II leading a platoon of hardened, traumatized, broken soldiers.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragged. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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