rag 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈrag How to pronounce rag (audio)
Definition of ragnext
1
as in newspaper
a publication that appears at regular intervals the local rag publishes more gossip than news

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in clothing
rags plural covering for the human body the girls showed up at the prom wearing their most elegant rags

Synonyms & Similar Words

rag

2 of 3

noun (2)

chiefly British
as in prank
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke a collegiate rag that nearly got him sent down from Oxford

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rag

3 of 3

verb

as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings several readers called in to rag the editor for his paper's repeated grammatical lapses

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 rag
Noun
Andreotti would cool off in the shower, use wet rags and sometimes lay on the concrete floor. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026 Sunlight naturally sanitizes and refreshes fabrics; reusable cleaning rags reduce waste and can replace paper towels. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
The city in the book is a strange hodgepodge of affluence and poverty, of shiny new shops and ragged old ruins. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026 If the edges look ragged with tan or white tips, your mower blade is at fault. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rag
  1. newspaper
  2. clothing
  3. prank
  4. scold
  5. periodical
  6. threads
  7. trick
  8. lecture
Noun
  • Wire services, newspapers, magazine and niche publications also take part.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Drawing on personal archives, home videos, footage of street protests, newspapers and recorded voices, the filmmaker pieces together a portrait of a country shaped by political repression and a continuing hope for revolution.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of newspaper
Noun
  • As more institutions devote space to designers and their archives, clothing is increasingly understood as a cultural artifact rather than simply a commercial product.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Check faces, hands, hair, jewelry and clothing for unexpected changes.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of clothing
Noun
  • Amanda Seyfried’s daughter pulled a spooky prank on her just in time for Halloween.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Over at Team Mauve’s house, the prank starts falling into place when Green and his teammates Jodie Sweetin and Beverley Mitchell get a knock on the door regarding a pizza delivery.
    — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of prank
Verb
  • Others criticized Anderson for seemingly scolding fans and trying to tell them where to sit.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Now the older generation is scolding workers for having a different view on interview etiquette without recognizing the cold reality of today’s job market.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of scold
Noun
  • Operating for nearly a century, Algani began in 1927 as a modest seller of newspapers, periodicals, and postcards before evolving into one of the city’s first international newsstands.
    — Eleonora Giordani, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
  • People who might be lucky to have a roof over their heads gathered there to read American books and periodicals, watch American movies, listen to lectures about America, tap their toes to jazz from America.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of periodical
Noun
  • The film leans on split screens to show text threads, streams and their live chats.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The stories have strong armature, so just about all other details and threads can be changed.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of threads
Noun
  • Kids can explore an inflatable corn maze, go trick-or-treating, face painting and more.
    — John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Beamer’s acumen in the game’s third phase comes from father, Hall of Famer Frank Beamer, whose Virginia Tech teams won games by blocking kicks and using trick plays.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Earhart lectured at the school before embarking on her final flight.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Driving around the region to lecture and guide tours, his travel costs have soared and led him to raise his prices.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of lecture

Phrases Containing rag

Browse Nearby Words

rafts
rag
ragamuffin
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Cite this Entry

“Rag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rag. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rag

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rag

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