Definitions

ragged

[rag-id] / ˈræg ɪd /

ADJECTIVE

worn-out; in shreds

Synonyms

STRONG

battered broken dilapidated disorganized fragmented frayed frazzled jagged mean notched patched rent rough serrated shredded torn

WEAK

badly dressed badly worn contemptible crude desultory dingy down-at-the-heel full of holes in holes in rags in tatters irregular moth-eaten poor poorly made rugged scraggy seedy shabby shaggy shoddy tacky tattered tatty threadbare uneven unfinished unkempt unpressed worse for wear

Antonyms

STRONG

complete even fixed nice polite smooth

WEAK

kempt new

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ragged character motivations and unbelievable plot developments are everywhere.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Rob Davies placed notices in his Run Ragged vintage shop in Wrexham, informing customers "due to scumbags shoplifting, please ask for assistance to open cabinets".

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2025

On Friday the officials said that a section, known as Ragged Point, was shuttered “due to slide activity north of this location.”

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2024

Ragged cliffs of ice tilted 50 meters up into the air, exposing deep layers that had not seen daylight for thousands of years.

From Scientific American • Oct. 18, 2022

Ragged beards of ice grew down the spears clasped in their snowy fists.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Vocabulary lists containing ragged

"Eleven"

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Chains

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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

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