ragged Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb treat cruelly
   bedevil; rag; crucify; dun; frustrate; torment.
   
   • The children tormented the stuttering teacher
2. verb cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
   annoy; rag; devil; bother; vex; irritate; nettle; rile; get to; nark; get at; gravel; chafe.
   
   • Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me
   • It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves
3. verb play in ragtime
   rag.
   
   • rag that old tune
4. verb harass with persistent criticism or carping
   rag; razz; bait; tantalize; twit; taunt; ride; tease; cod; rally; tantalise.
   
   • The children teased the new teacher
   • Don't ride me so hard over my failure
   • His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie
5. verb censure severely or angrily
   call on the carpet; rag; dress down; remonstrate; chew out; take to task; call down; jaw; lambast; trounce; scold; chide; berate; chew up; have words; rebuke; reprimand; reproof; lecture; bawl out; lambaste.
   
   • The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car
   • The deputy ragged the Prime Minister
   • The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup
6. verb break into lumps before sorting
   rag.
   
   • rag ore
7. adjective satellite being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
   
   • clothes as ragged as a scarecrow's
   • a ragged tramp
8. adjective satellite worn out from stress or strain
   
   • run ragged
9. adjective satellite having an irregular outline
   
   • text set with ragged right margins
   • herded the class into a ragged line

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