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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 In October 1950, Chinese forces invaded and the ragtag Tibetan army was swiftly crushed. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026 Their once formidable left wing media army – led by CNN, the Washington Post and 60 Minutes – is dwindling to just a ragtag few that have forfeited their power, influence, ratings and readership. — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 18 June 2026 With no league and no roadmap, a ragtag group of players and an unlikely coach endured a grueling two-year training camp, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever World Cup on American soil. — Brent Lang, Variety, 17 June 2026 The Pushing Daisies and Marcella star plays a fearsome and fearless doctor, who along with her second-in-command, registrar Dr Curtis Parker, leads a ragtag group of medical interns on their final chance at Pines Hospital. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 June 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
  • While there have been some minimal interior changes over the decades (there’s no longer a payphone or cigarette machine), the eclectic nature of Mac’s clientele has remained the same.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • An eclectic list of folks have commented about it, from country singer Brad Paisley and comedian Conan O’Brien to ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, Chiefs coach Andy Reid and former MLB star Rick Sutcliffe.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of eclectic
Adjective
  • On a recent afternoon, the lanky, mustachioed Zucker, wearing a T-shirt, ballcap and small hoop earrings, bears little resemblance to his comic alter ego who sports a tattered suit with gag props stuffed in every pocket.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For weeks, migrants in the Spanish territory of Ceuta had gathered on a beach away from the city center, sleeping on cardboard sheets, under reed huts and guarding their few possessions in tattered plastic bags.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tattered
Adjective
  • At the center Tuesday afternoon, about a dozen residents gathered with pets and assorted belongings as a team of volunteers worked to set up a dormitory in the center’s gymnasium.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The benches near the dining table and others throughout the home lift up to store life jackets, cushions and other assorted items.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of assorted
Adjective
  • James roves among the attackers’ perspectives before and during the event, his experimental style, psychological acuity, and ragged lyricism on display.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bristol Type 6, marked by ragged, jagged or fluffy edges, indicates stool moved through the colon too fast for water absorption.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of ragged
Adjective
  • Ravens famously accompany Odin in Norse mythology, while ravens and crows play important—and varied—roles in the traditions of many Indigenous peoples across North America.
    — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In some initial results, dead fish collected from the mass mortality events showed consistently high levels of PHV, the department said in a statement, while live fish that were examined had varied levels of the virus.
    — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of varied
Adjective
  • Yum reported mixed second-quarter results and said the cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell hit the chain's sales in July, but that trends began to improve.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Open Concepts With more mixed reactions than the other trends, open concepts fill out the top five most controversial design trends.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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