rags 1 of 2

noun

plural of rag
as in clothes
covering for the human body the girls showed up at the prom wearing their most elegant rags

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rags

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rag
as in scolds
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 rags
Noun
Pour a little water over the area to rinse it, and blot it with rags as well. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026 In any case, her rags-to-riches tale caught the imagination of people around the world. — Dan Kelly june 16, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026 Men dressed in laborers’ rags responded with a triple roar for His Majesty. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 Despite difficult circumstances, kids find ways to play, even crafting balls from rags. — Michael Sandler, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 Some tanks turn into rags after a few washes, but Quince's cotton modal top is a workhorse that holds up to endless wear and tear. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 Place Drying Towels and Rags in Separate Places Kitchen rags tend to be one item that gets tossed around in piles on counters. — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 June 2026 Released during World War II, the film capitalizes on Cohan's rags-to-riches story and his songs' ability to boost morale with their embodiment of the American spirit. — Kevin P. Sullivan, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026 The first child in her family born free after the Civil War, Walker’s remarkable journey falls in the rags-to-riches genre, but her legacy — viewed through a modern lens and within the evolving politics of Black hair — has been more complicated. — Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rags
  1. clothing
  2. scolds
  3. attire
  4. lectures
  5. dress
  6. reprimands
Noun
  • Surveillance cameras captured a person dressed in dark clothing on a nearby roof overlooking the courtyard less than ten minutes before the killing, prosecutors said in charging documents.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The same goes for discovering petite-friendly clothing brands with styles that not only fit, but also flatter shorter frames.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
Definition of clothing
Verb
  • Someone else scolds the offender.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
  • Inspired by This Is Spinal Tap, Cundieff makes quick work of lambasting the casual misogyny and homophobia ingrained in hardcore rap, but also of the media scolds unable to parse the message of the music.
    — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
Definition of scolds
Noun
  • But this year, according to a dress code reviewed by The Athletic, women have been told that strapless, off-the-shoulder and spaghetti-strap attire is not permitted, with illustrations of appropriate and inappropriate wear for both men and women.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Shop More Loft Sales Talbots is the destination for elegant travel outfits and office-ready attire.
    — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Definition of attire
Verb
  • Today’s successful downtowns rely on a mix of ingredients, said Steven Falk, the former city manager of Lafayette, who’s served as an interim city executive in Oakland and Richmond and who lectures at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
  • Bad teams are given mechanisms to recover, not lectures about bootstraps.
    — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Definition of lectures
Noun
  • Footwear is really the only requirement to wear a caftan dress, so feel free to pull out your summertime hits like strappy sandals.
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • Keep a handful near your washing machine or drying rack for blouses, dresses, workout wear, or delicate pieces that should skip the dryer.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026
Definition of dress
Verb
  • The emperor reprimands her for being late for the rainmaking ritual.
    — Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026
  • His supervisor appears as a ticket conductor and reprimands him for doing nothing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Definition of reprimands

Phrases Containing rags

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ragouts
rags
rags on
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Cite this Entry

“Rags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rags. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of rags for Spanish Speakers

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