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
The encampments shared a ragged esprit de corps, but Jungle reality often punctured romantic illusion.
—
Photographs Todd Heisler, New York Times, 19 May 2024
Their guitar work was scrappy and soulful and ragged and real and all those other underrated qualities that make for an exciting night of rock 'n' roll, the kind of night the Rolling Stones have always been so brilliant at delivering.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ragged 
Photographs Todd Heisler, New York Times, 19 May 2024
Their guitar work was scrappy and soulful and ragged and real and all those other underrated qualities that make for an exciting night of rock 'n' roll, the kind of night the Rolling Stones have always been so brilliant at delivering.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ragged
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ragged.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ragged
Cite this Entry
“Ragged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ragged. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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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