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
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 While the Barry star is great here, the episode actually belongs to Mia Isaac and the terrifying Amy Ruggiero as an escaped patient named Alice Taylor, who appears at a hospital one night in a ragged state, unable to close her mouth. Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024 Some of our favorite experiences were parking right on the water at Lake Powell, Arizona, camping along the ragged mountains by California’s Alabama Hills, and driving around the grassy hillsides in New York’s wine region. Steve Adcock, Contributor, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ragged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragged
Adjective
  • Sea oats and fir trees dance in the breeze as seagulls squawk in a bright blue sky and the mighty Pacific crashes against the jagged shoreline a few dozen yards away.
    Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 12 Feb. 2025
  • The neck’s jagged base suggests that the head was torn from a larger, perhaps full-length figure, but the sculpture reveals almost no other significant damage.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • But the tattered state of the alliance system is not Trump’s doing alone.
    Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2020
Adjective
  • Connecticut transit riders urged lawmakers to bolster funding and services for the state’s local commuter railroads on Wednesday, as ridership continues to experience an uneven rebound from the pandemic.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Two different curling irons — a 1-inch and a 1.5-inch — gave the pro uneven waves for a more natural feel.
    Jackie Fields, People.com, 27 Feb. 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
  • For American travelers, that could mean fewer crowds in Yosemite National Park’s iconic valleys, a more relaxed wine-tasting experience in Napa or quieter coastal hikes along Big Sur's rugged cliffs.
    Emese Maczko, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Initially worn by construction workers, Timberlands, as they became known, soon transcended their rugged origins and were embraced, beginning in the late ’70s, by everyone from the Milanese jet set to British ravers.
    Kin Woo, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Known for his rough and tumble roles, the two-time Oscar winner died Feb. 26, 2025.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The results, while still a little rough around the edges, show how much extra longevity can be wrung from simple tweaks to existing gameplay.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Deo’s family told the outlet that the car had a broken window and blood on the front seat, and his shoes were left inside.
    Rhiannon Saegert, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Infielder Nick Madrigal was moved to the 60-day IL with a broken shoulder to make room on the 40-man roster.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 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 3 Mar. 2025.

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