jagged
Americanadjective
-
having ragged notches, points, or teeth; zigzag.
the jagged edge of a saw; a jagged wound.
-
having a harsh, rough, or uneven quality.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jagged
Explanation
Something is jagged when it has an uneven edge or quality to it. Teeth can be jagged, saw blades can be jagged, and the edges of leaves can be jagged. Jagged comes from 16th century English/Scottish and originally referred to a cloth, cut in a way so that the edge is not straight, but that is “toothed.” Imagine a tipsy seamstress trying to cut cloth in a straight line, but her sheers stray this way then that. She’s leaving a jagged edge on the cloth. Or perhaps you have a crush on the seamstress, but she is seen kissing another. Here, she’s leaving a jagged wound on your heart.
Vocabulary lists containing jagged
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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Long Way Down
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Holes
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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.
Cheslin Kolbe, who jagged off the same foot to ice Owen Farrell's ankles in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, danced in at the end of that attack.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
The title character disdains the common folk, and the play’s complicated political discussion and harsh, jagged poetry aren’t what most picnicking playgoers are after.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
AFP journalists saw rescue dogs and their handlers scour the pile of broken concrete and jagged metal bars.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
Over time, they will look like the jagged profile of a mountain range.
From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026
Once more, fallen stones blocked their way, but this time there was a narrow, jagged gap.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
