Ragged means worn, torn, or frayed at the edges. When your favorite jeans become ragged after years of wear, they develop holes and loose threads. A ragged stuffed animal might have patches of fur missing and seams coming apart, but these signs of wear can make it even more beloved.

The word also describes something uneven or rough, like a ragged coastline with jagged rocks and an irregular shape, or a ragged haircut with uneven lengths. When someone runs until they're breathing in ragged gasps, their breath comes in uneven, struggling bursts rather than smooth, steady inhales.

You might hear someone described as looking ragged when they're exhausted and disheveled, like after staying up all night working on a project. A ragged performance means it was inconsistent or rough around the edges, not polished and smooth.

The related phrase run ragged means to be completely worn out from too much activity, like when you've been run ragged by a busy week of tests, practices, and chores.