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.
Over time, they will look like the jagged profile of a mountain range.
From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026
Credit where credit is due, though, he’s already made a mark on the political discourse that will have the staying power of a jagged scar.
From Slate • May 7, 2026
The researchers compare it to repeatedly zooming in on a rough, jagged line.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
A client’s fingers might clutch a smooth black onyx, or a jagged rose quartz, or tissues.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
Nim’s breath came in jagged chunks; she was so hot she thought flames might spurt out of her head like her own miniature volcano.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
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.
