ragtag

adjective

ˈrag-ˌtag How to pronounce ragtag (audio)
Definition of ragtagnext
1
as in eclectic
consisting of many things of different sorts the team was a ragtag bunch who had only one thing in common: a lack of skill

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
wearing torn or worn out clothes a ragtag and weary regiment arrived back at headquarters with the latest news from the front

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ragtag What to read next Shows like Cowboy Bebop had a ragtag team of underdogs exploring the solar system, instilling lessons about loneliness and existentialism. — George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The redoubtable Israeli army, supposedly capable of fighting off enemies in Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen all at once, has now added to its glory the removal of a ragtag canopy in a daring commando raid. — David Shulman, The New York Review of Books, 26 Aug. 2026 Deep Cut, the ragtag band from previous Splatoon titles, has cobbled together a shantytown at sea, which serves as homebase. — Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The sitcom stars himself and Steve Gerben as ragtag family co-workers who have to band together after Gerben’s character, Will, inherits his dad’s auto shop. — Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ragtag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ragtag
  1. eclectic
  2. tattered
  3. assorted
  4. ragged
  5. varied
  6. mixed
Adjective
  • The next season of the interview series brings together an eclectic lineup, including A-list Hollywood director Judd Apatow, Monty Python legend Eric Idle, and heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The look is eclectic colonial with timber ceilings, mahogany antiques, chintz armchairs, and clawfoot baths.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of eclectic
Adjective
  • For Brashares, letting go of her kids’ and husband’s old clothes always felt a little like throwing away more than tattered items.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The tattered cypresses and long-needle pines damp out the shine of her tracksuit, closing swiftly around dog and girl.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of tattered
Adjective
  • The Japanese rice bowl combines soboro (そぼろ)—ground meat, fish, or eggs cooked into fine crumbles—with steamed short-grain rice and assorted toppings.
    — Tadashi Ono & Harris Salat, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In a wet year when food is plentiful, your best bet is to hunt over soft mast like muscadines and assorted berries; native grasses and legumes.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of assorted
Adjective
  • Dull blades leave tears and ragged ends that cause grass blades to wither and bleach out more quickly.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Both sides deny responsibility for launching this round of hostilities, and most of the fighting is believed to be in remote areas of often ragged, mountainous territory.
    — SAMUEL GETACHEW, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of ragged
Adjective
  • But in typical Davies fashion, the five-hour miniseries distinguishes itself for tackling its subject so head on and with such varied and visceral feeling, as manifested especially by Cumming and David Morrissey as a pair of feuding neighbors.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Some pundits are heralding the end of Nike’s chokehold on the athlete marketing space, while others predict a turn toward a more varied sector.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of varied
Adjective
  • Scandium’s role in aerospace and advanced technology Rare earth separation involves converting mixed material into individual oxides used across advanced manufacturing and other strategic industries.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The measure has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters arguing that early intervention could reduce per-student costs over time and opponents saying property owners already face rising costs and the district should use existing resources.
    — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of mixed

Phrases Containing ragtag

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rags on
ragtag
ragtag and bobtail
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Cite this Entry

“Ragtag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ragtag. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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