ragged

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

ragged — 形容詞

  • 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

破舊的

衣物因長期使用而破損的

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.

那件舊襯衫已經破舊不堪，偉乾脆拿來當抹布使用。

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.

街上的乞丐穿著一件破舊的外套，根本擋不住寒風。

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

衣衫襤褸的

人骯髒凌亂、穿著破衣的模樣

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.

在深山裡迷路三天後，那名登山客看起來衣衫襤褸，幾乎走不動了。

pattern: look/feel ragged after an ordeal

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

拉斐爾遲到時衣衫襤褸的模樣，讓同學們大吃一驚。

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

參差不齊的

邊緣或表面不整齊不平滑的

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.

那塊破玻璃參差不齊的邊緣很容易割傷你的手指。

collocation: ragged + edge / surface / outline

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

阿瑪拉用一把鋒利的刀子把繩子參差不齊的末端修剪整齊。

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

沙啞的

聲音或呼吸粗糙不規律的

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.

在足球賽中喊了兩個小時後，馬特歐的聲音變得沙啞，幾乎只能發出氣音。

collocation: ragged + voice / breathing / cough / laugh

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

老先生慢慢地爬上公寓的樓梯，呼吸急促而沙啞。

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

不順暢的

因缺乏組織而表現不佳的

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.

球隊雜亂無章的防守讓對手在上半場輕鬆踢進三球。

collocation: ragged + team / defense / performance / play

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

樂團的表演很不順暢，因為鼓手在演出前生病了。

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

筋疲力盡的

因長期勞動或壓力而極度疲倦的

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.

跑完整場馬拉松後，哈維爾感覺筋疲力盡，幾乎站不住去領獎牌。

pattern: feel + ragged after prolonged physical effort

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

值大夜班的護理人員連續工作十二小時沒休息，個個筋疲力盡。

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.