1
: roughly unkempt
2
: having an irregular edge or outline
3
a
: torn or worn to tatters
b
: worn-out from stress and strain
ran herself ragged
4
: wearing tattered clothes
raggedly
adverb
raggedness
noun
Examples of ragged in a Sentence
a boy in ragged jeans
You look a little ragged—did you have a rough week?
Recent Examples on the Web
In the clip, the small dog scuttles into the room clutching his ragged bear, which has a hole that has caused its stuffing to spill out.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
These others can boast a ragged caliphate, closets full of Che T-shirts, and an upcoming Mission: Impossible movie, respectively.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025
The release’s first single is a ragged rendition of the band’s eponymous song, recorded, of course, at a U.K. studio called Manticore.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025
The square of white cloth was about to be sewn into a bigger pieces displaying political messages, but the ragged edges didn't neatly line up with the other pieces.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ragged
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Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
These others can boast a ragged caliphate, closets full of Che T-shirts, and an upcoming Mission: Impossible movie, respectively.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025
The release’s first single is a ragged rendition of the band’s eponymous song, recorded, of course, at a U.K. studio called Manticore.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025
The square of white cloth was about to be sewn into a bigger pieces displaying political messages, but the ragged edges didn't neatly line up with the other pieces.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ragged
Cite this Entry
“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ragged. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ragged
adjective
rag·ged
ˈrag-əd 
1
: having a rough or uneven edge or outline
ragged cliffs
2
a
: torn or worn to or as if to tatters
a ragged dress
b
: wearing tattered clothes
a ragged child
3
: done in an uneven way
a ragged performance
raggedly
adverb
raggedness
noun
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