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.

Few have gotten more out of three ragged chords than Diamond did in his first Top 10 single.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

This wasn’t “an argument between genteel parties in Congress,” William Hogeland writes in his history, The Whiskey Rebellion, “but…a guerrilla war on the country’s ragged margin, our first war for the American soul.”

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

When the 46-year-old swapped Leicester Tigers for Twickenham ahead of schedule in December 2022, England were in a ragged place.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

He’s looked a little ragged in recent weeks, and though Maye said this week he will be “just fine,” the status of his shoulder is undeniably Patriots freakout topic No. 1.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

My journal is black, ragged on the edges, and nearly filled up with my daily scribbles and screams.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

Vocabulary lists containing ragged

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Chains

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

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