bedraggle

bedraggle — verb

  • bedragglepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • bedraggles3rd person singular
  • bedraggling-ing form
  • bedraggledpast simple

1. to leave a person or thing soaked and untidy, especially after rain, mud, or spr

1.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to leave a person or thing soaked and untidy, especially after rain, mud, or spray

Example

A sudden bus splash bedraggled Sayaka's coat on her walk to school.

road spray + bedraggle + clothing

By noon, the rain had bedraggled the market banners above the square.

weather as the subject causing a soaked, untidy result

Common collocations
  • bedraggle someone's coat
  • bedraggle someone's hair
  • bedraggle the hem of a dress
Synonyms
  • soak

    the broad everyday verb for making something very wet, without the extra idea of untidiness

  • drench

    strongly suggests complete wetness, but not necessarily the messy or dirty look

  • spatter

    usually means drops hit a surface; it is weaker and often does not leave something thoroughly wet

Grammar Patterns

bedraggle + object

rain/mud/spray + bedraggle + object

Usage Note

Usually describes clothes, hair, paper, or similar things left wet and messy by rain, mud, or spray. The verb is uncommon and slightly literary; everyday English often prefers 'soak' or 'drench'.

Common Mistakes

The chef bedraggled the onions in oil.
The chef soaked the onions in oil.
'bedraggle' is used for things made wet and messy by rain, mud, or similar conditions, not ordinary cooking.
The exam bedraggled me by noon.
The exam exhausted me by noon.
'bedraggle' describes something becoming soaked and untidy, not mentally tired.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Bedraggle' is much rarer and more literary than 'soak' or 'drench'. 'Soak' is the broad everyday verb for making something very wet, with no idea of disorder. 'Drench' is stronger and often suggests that clothes or skin are completely wet, but it still does not necessarily imply a messy appearance. 'Bedraggle' adds that final detail: the thing is not only soaked but also left hanging, dirty, or untidy after rain, mud, or spray. 'Spatter' is weaker and refers to drops hitting a surface, often before it becomes truly wet through. A storm may drench your jacket, but if the cloth hangs limp and muddy afterwards, it has bedraggled it.

bedraggle ↗soak ↗drench ↗spatter ↗

Etymology

English

Formed in English from the prefix 'be-' and the verb 'draggle'. 'Draggle' means to trail something so that it becomes wet, dirty, or untidy, and 'bedraggle' strengthens that idea into leaving a person or thing thoroughly soaked and messy. The word is especially used for clothes, hair, feathers, or paper after rain, mud, or road spray.

First known use

1727

1727, in the meaning defined above