ragged

adjective

rag·​ged ˈra-gəd How to pronounce ragged (audio)
1
: roughly unkempt
2
: having an irregular edge or outline
3
a
: torn or worn to tatters
b
: worn-out from stress and strain
ran herself ragged
4
: wearing tattered clothes
5
a
b
: executed in an irregular or uneven manner
c
of a sound : harsh, dissonant
raggedly adverb
raggedness noun

Examples of ragged in a Sentence

a boy in ragged jeans You look a little ragged—did you have a rough week?
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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 While rodents such as squirrels may chew small ragged marks on pumpkin skins, just one deer can eat most, if not all, of a large pumpkin in one visit. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ragged 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ragged was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ragged

Cite this Entry

“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ragged. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ragged

adjective
rag·​ged ˈrag-əd How to pronounce ragged (audio)
1
: having a rough or uneven edge or outline
ragged cliffs
2
a
: torn or worn to or as if to tatters
a ragged dress
b
: wearing tattered clothes
a ragged child
3
: done in an uneven way
a ragged performance
raggedly adverb
raggedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ragged

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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