ragged
Americanadjective
-
clothed in tattered garments.
a ragged old man.
- Antonyms:
- neat
-
torn or worn to rags; tattered.
ragged clothing.
-
shaggy, as an animal, its coat, etc.
-
having loose or hanging shreds or fragmentary bits.
a ragged wound.
-
full of rough or sharp projections; jagged.
ragged stones.
-
in a wild or neglected state.
a ragged garden.
-
rough, imperfect, or faulty.
a ragged piece of work.
-
harsh, as sound, the voice, etc.
-
(of a column of type) set or printed with one side unjustified; either flush left with the right side unjustified ragged right or flush right with the left side unjustified ragged left.
adjective
-
(of clothes) worn to rags; tattered
-
(of a person) dressed in shabby tattered clothes
-
having a neglected or unkempt appearance
ragged weeds
-
having a loose, rough, or uneven surface or edge; jagged
-
uneven or irregular
a ragged beat
a ragged shout
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ragged
First recorded in 1250–1300, ragged is from the Middle English word ragget. See rag 1, -ed 3
Explanation
Something that's ragged is starting to fall apart. When your favorite sweater is getting ragged, it's so worn that the sleeves are fraying. You'll often see ragged describing clothing or a person's tendency to dress in torn, ratty clothes. Your grandmother might talk about the ragged little boy in her neighborhood, who always wears a dirty t-shirt and jeans with holes in the knees. You might put on your comfortable sweatpants only to realize they've gotten a little ragged, frayed around the waistband.
Vocabulary lists containing ragged
"Eleven"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Chains
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
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
Facing obstacles – be they ragged clothes that triggered childhood bullying or high school classmates who ridiculed her for favoring country music over The Beatles – became a way of life for Dolly.
From Salon • Jan. 19, 2026
By 5:00 A.M. the first hint of daylight glowed dimly in the east, and daybreak brought a chilly, misty, overcast day with snow squalls driving in ragged veils across the ice.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
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.
