ragged

/ˈræɡɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈræɡɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈra-gəd/ (ame, mw)

ragged — adjective

  • raggedpositive
  • more raggedcomparative
  • most raggedsuperlative

1. having tears, holes, or thin areas from a lot of use or wear; no longer in a cle

1.形容詞B2
釋義

having tears, holes, or thin areas from a lot of use or wear; no longer in a clean, whole condition.

例句

The old shirt was so ragged that Wei used it as a cleaning cloth.

collocation: ragged + clothing noun (shirt, coat, jeans, sweater)

A beggar on the street wore a ragged coat that did not keep out the cold wind.

同義詞
  • tattered

    similar but often suggests hanging shreds or scraps, not just general wear

  • shabby

    focuses on worn-out appearance from poverty or long use, slightly less severe than ragged

  • frayed

    describes fabric with threads coming loose at edges, not full holes or tears

反義詞

用法筆記

Describes clothing that has worn thin or torn in many places from extended use, not a single small rip or hole.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a ragged jacket from the store because I like the style.
✅I bought a worn-looking jacket from the store because I like the style.
💡Ragged describes damage or wear, not a fashion style you would choose deliberately.

2. dirty and messy in appearance, with old or torn clothing, often because of hards

2.形容詞B2
釋義

dirty and messy in appearance, with old or torn clothing, often because of hardship or hard physical work.

例句

After three days lost in the mountains, the hiker looked ragged and could barely walk.

pattern: look/feel ragged after an ordeal

Rafael's ragged appearance surprised his classmates when he arrived late to school.

同義詞
  • unkempt

    focuses on messy hair and appearance, not necessarily torn clothing

  • shabby

    describes worn-out clothes, but often implies poverty without the same level of dirt or disorder

  • scruffy

    informal; suggests untidiness from carelessness rather than hardship

反義詞

用法筆記

Can describe someone who is normally neat but became messy from hard work, not only someone in chronic poverty or homelessness.

常見錯誤

❌A ragged woman came to the door selling cookies.
✅A poorly dressed woman came to the door selling cookies.
💡Ragged implies torn, dirty clothing from hardship, not just simple or inexpensive clothes.

3. having an outline or surface that is not straight, smooth, or even; cut or broke

3.形容詞B2
釋義

having an outline or surface that is not straight, smooth, or even; cut or broken in an irregular way.

例句

The ragged edge of the broken glass could easily cut your finger if you touch it.

collocation: ragged + edge / surface / outline

Amara trimmed the ragged ends of the rope with a sharp knife to make it neat again.

同義詞
  • jagged

    specifically describes sharp, pointed irregularities, like broken glass or sawtooth edges

  • uneven

    broader term; less visual and not specific to edges or outlines

  • irregular

    more formal; describes any shape that does not follow a pattern

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently applied to the edges of broken materials (glass, metal, paper) and natural features (coastlines, tree lines, stone surfaces).

常見錯誤

❌The road was ragged after the storm.
✅The road was rough and uneven after the storm.
💡Ragged for surfaces usually describes edges or outlines, not the flat surface of a road.

4. rough and uneven in sound quality; lacking a smooth, steady tone, usually becaus

4.形容詞C1
釋義

rough and uneven in sound quality; lacking a smooth, steady tone, usually because of strain or illness.

例句

After shouting for two hours at the football game, Mateo's voice was ragged and barely above a whisper.

collocation: ragged + voice / breathing / cough / laugh

The old man's breathing was ragged as he slowly climbed the stairs to his apartment.

同義詞
  • hoarse

    specifically for a voice that is rough and weak, usually from shouting or a cold

  • raspy

    describes a very rough, grating sound, often from smoking or illness

  • uneven

    general term for irregular rhythm or pitch, less vivid than ragged

反義詞

用法筆記

Often describes a voice or breath that worsens over time due to exertion or illness, rather than a naturally rough quality.

常見錯誤

❌The music sounded ragged and I turned it off.
✅The music sounded harsh and I turned it off.
💡Ragged voices or breaths describe living sounds affected by strain; for recorded music use 'harsh' or 'poor quality.'

5. not flowing or working together smoothly because of a lack of organisation, prep

5.形容詞C1
釋義

not flowing or working together smoothly because of a lack of organisation, preparation, or coordination.

例句

The team's ragged defense let the other side score three easy goals in the first half of the game.

collocation: ragged + team / defense / performance / play

The band gave a ragged performance because the drummer had fallen sick just before the show started.

同義詞
  • disjointed

    suggests parts that do not connect to each other, common for arguments or speeches

  • uneven

    broader term for inconsistent quality; less specific to coordination problems

  • jerky

    describes movement or rhythm that stops and starts, more physical than ragged

反義詞
  • smooth
  • polished

    well-rehearsed and refined, opposite of uncoordinated and rough

用法筆記

Typically describes group efforts — teams, bands, ensembles, or written work — where the parts do not fit together well, rather than an individual's solo performance.

常見錯誤

❌My piano playing was ragged because I did not practice.
✅My piano playing was uneven because I did not practice.
💡Ragged implies that different players or parts do not coordinate; for an individual's solo work, 'uneven' or 'disjointed' is more natural.

6. extremely tired, both in body and mind, especially after a long period of hard w

6.形容詞C1
釋義

extremely tired, both in body and mind, especially after a long period of hard work, physical effort, or strain.

例句

After running the full marathon, Javier felt ragged and could barely stand up to receive his medal.

pattern: feel + ragged after prolonged physical effort

The nurses on the night shift were ragged after working twelve hours without a single break.

同義詞
  • drained

    suggests energy has been completely used up, similar intensity but more common

  • worn out

    slightly more common in everyday speech; similar meaning

  • spent

    formal or literary tone; suggests total depletion of energy

反義詞

文法句型

feel/look + ragged

用法筆記

Informal register. Common in the patterns 'feel ragged' and 'look ragged.' Implies a deeper level of exhaustion than 'tired' — closer to 'drained' or 'worn out.'

常見錯誤

❌I feel ragged because I only slept for five hours last night.
✅I feel exhausted because I only slept for five hours last night.
💡Ragged implies extreme fatigue from sustained physical or mental strain, not just mild sleep deprivation.