adj
ragged
RA-gihd
adj
1
Torn or worn to shreds; tattered.
"He wore a ragged old coat that had seen better days."
2
Uneven, rough, or lacking polish.
"The choir gave a ragged performance after barely any rehearsal."
"The coastline was a ragged line of cliffs and inlets."
How to Use Ragged
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTorn and worn-out — or, more broadly, rough and uneven rather than smooth or polished.
Common pairings
ragged edge
ragged clothes
a ragged performance
Word Forms
more ragged comparative, most ragged superlative
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He wore a _____ old coat that had seen better days.
Etymology
From Middle English ragged, related to Old Norse words for "tufted" or "shaggy" — the same family as "rag."