Ragged — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈra-gəd/ rag·ged

Meaning & Definition of Ragged

Ragged (adjective)

  1. roughly unkempt
  2. having an irregular edge or outline
  3. torn or worn to tatters

Ragged (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having an uneven edge or outline

    "the Rocky Mountains cut an angular, ragged profile against the sky, in contrast to the rounded silhouette of the rolling, green Adirondack Mountains"

    similar: broken, craggy, jagged, scraggly, scraggy
    related: saw-toothed, serrate, serrated, harsh, rough, roughened, rugged, bumpy, coarse, irregular, nonuniform
    opposite: clean, even, smooth, soft, unbroken
    near: regular, uniform, flat, flush, level, plane

  2. worn or torn into or as if into rags

    "finally convinced her to throw away her favorite pair of jeans, ragged from years of yard work"

    similar: frayed, raggedy, ratty, seedy, shabby, tattered, threadbare, worn-out
    related: dowdy, scruffy, tatterdemalion, dingy, faded, lacerate, shredded, holey, patchy, broken-down, decrepit, dilapidated, dog-eared, grungy, mangy, moth-eaten, run-down, scuzzy (slang), tacky
    near: brand-new, new, spick-and-span, unused

  3. not having a level or smooth surface

    "she cut herself on the ragged edge of the tin can's lid"

    similar: broken, bumpy, coarse, irregular, jagged, lumpy, pebbly, rough, roughened, rugged, scraggy, uneven
    related: lopsided, unbalanced, inexact, unaligned, rutted, rutty, undulating, undulatory, wavy, pitted, pocked, knobbly, knobby, knurled, knurly, nubbly, nubby, burred, harsh, sandpapery, scraggly, scratchy, nonuniform
    opposite: even, flat, level, plane, smooth
    near: exact, uniform, aligned, regular, true, horizontal, tabular, plumb, straight, vertical, flush

  4. wearing torn or worn-out clothes

    "ragged and hungry refugees emerging from the jungle where they had been in hiding for weeks"

    similar: raggedy, ragtag, tatterdemalion, tattered, out at elbows
    related: bedraggled, scroungy, scruffy, shabby, threadbare, down-at-the-heels
    near: decked (out), dolled up, dressed up, spiffy

Ragged (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "several readers called in to rag the editor for his paper's repeated grammatical lapses"

    similar: basted, bawled out, berated, called down, castigated, chastised, chewed out, dressed down, flayed, hammered, jawed, keelhauled, lambasted, lectured, railed (at or against), ranted (at), rated, reamed (out), rebuked, reprimanded, reproached, scolded, scored, tongue-lashed, upbraided, laid into, read the riot act (to), took to task
    related: admonished, chid, remonstrated (with), reproved, abused, assailed, attacked, bad-mouthed, blamed, blasted, censured, condemned, criticized, crucified, denounced, dissed (slang), excoriated, faulted, harangued, knocked, laced (into), lashed, panned, reprehended, reviled, scourged, slammed, vituperated, belittled, disparaged, mocked, put down, ridiculed, scoffed, scorned
    near: approved, endorsed, sanctioned, extolled, lauded, praised

Related Entry: Rag (verb)

Rag is a different word from Ragged. The synonyms below are for rag, not for ragged.

  1. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "several readers called in to rag the editor for his paper's repeated grammatical lapses"

    similar: baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste, lecture, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, score, tongue-lash, upbraid, lay into, read the riot act (to), take to task
    related: admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove, abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (slang), excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate, belittle, disparage, mock, put down, ridicule, scoff, scorn
    near: approve, endorse, sanction, extol, laud, praise

Related Entry: Ragged on (phrase)

Ragged on is a different word from Ragged. The synonyms below are for ragged on, not for ragged.

  1. to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter

    "His teammates ragged on him for missing such an easy shot."

    similar: derided, gibed, jeered, laughed (at), mocked, ridiculed, scouted, shot down, skewered, cocked a snook (at), made fun of, made sport of, poked fun at
    related: scoffed (at), scorned, sneered (at), bad-mouthed, belittled, decried, disparaged, pooh-poohed, put down, chaffed, jived, joshed, kidded, quizzed, rallied, razzed, ribbed, rode, teased, tweaked, twitted, baited, barracked (chiefly British), bugged, catcalled, harassed, harried, hassled, heckled, needled, pestered, ragged, targeted, taunted, tormented, aped, burlesqued, caricatured, imitated, lampooned, mimicked, parodied, parroted, pilloried, satirized, took off (on), travestied
    near: applauded, approved, commended, endorsed, sanctioned

Related Entry: Rag on (phrase)

Rag on is a different word from Ragged. The synonyms below are for rag on, not for ragged.

  1. to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter

    "His teammates ragged on him for missing such an easy shot."

    similar: deride, gibe, jeer, laugh (at), mock, ridicule, scout, shoot down, skewer, cock a snook (at), make fun of, make sport of, poke fun at
    related: scoff (at), scorn, sneer (at), bad-mouth, belittle, decry, disparage, pooh-pooh, put down, chaff, jive, josh, kid, quiz, rally, razz, rib, ride, tease, tweak, twit, bait, barrack (chiefly British), bug, catcall, harass, harry, hassle, heckle, needle, pester, rag, target, taunt, torment, ape, burlesque, caricature, imitate, lampoon, mimic, parody, parrot, pillory, satirize, take off (on), travesty
    near: applaud, approve, commend, endorse, sanction

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ragged

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ragged:

broken, craggy, jagged, scraggly, scraggy, frayed, raggedy, ratty, seedy, shabby, tattered, threadbare, worn-out, bumpy, coarse, irregular, lumpy, pebbly, rough, roughened, rugged, uneven, ragtag, tatterdemalion, out at elbows, basted, bawled out, berated, called down, castigated, chastised, chewed out, dressed down, flayed, hammered, jawed, keelhauled, lambasted, lectured, railed (at or against)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ragged

Words with the opposite meaning of Ragged:

clean, even, smooth, soft, unbroken, flat, level, plane

Related Words for Ragged

saw-toothed, serrate, serrated, harsh, nonuniform, dowdy, scruffy, dingy, faded, lacerate, shredded, holey, patchy, broken-down, decrepit, dilapidated, dog-eared, grungy, mangy, moth-eaten, run-down, scuzzy, tacky, lopsided, unbalanced, inexact, unaligned, rutted, rutty, undulating

Near Antonyms of Ragged

regular, uniform, flush, brand-new, new, spick-and-span, unused, exact, aligned, true, horizontal, tabular, plumb, straight, vertical, decked (out), dolled up, dressed up, spiffy, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, extolled, lauded, praised

Word Forms of Ragged

Derived words: raggedly (adverb), raggedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Ragged

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Ragged

ragged robin, on the ragged edge, run (someone) ragged

Frequently Asked Questions about Ragged

What does "Ragged" mean?

"Ragged" means roughly unkempt. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: roughly unkempt. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ragged"?

Other words for "Ragged" include broken, craggy, jagged, scraggly, scraggy, frayed, raggedy and ratty. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ragged" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ragged"?

There are 134 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ragged". Common alternatives include broken, craggy, jagged, scraggly, scraggy, frayed, raggedy, ratty, seedy and shabby.

What is the opposite of "Ragged"?

Antonyms of "Ragged" include clean, even, smooth, soft, unbroken, flat, level and plane. Near antonyms include regular, uniform, flush and brand-new.

How do you use "Ragged" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ragged" in a sentence: "the Rocky Mountains cut an angular, ragged profile against the sky, in contrast to the rounded silhouette of the rolling, green Adirondack Mountains"; "finally convinced her to throw away her favorite pair of jeans, ragged from years of yard work"; "she cut herself on the ragged edge of the tin can's lid".

Is "Ragged" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ragged" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Ragged"?

"Ragged" is pronounced /ˈra-gəd/ and divided into syllables as rag·ged.

What is the origin of the word "Ragged"?

First known use: 14th century.