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Rotten vs Ragged - What's the difference?

rotten | ragged |

As a noun rotten

is .

As a verb ragged is

(rag).

As an adjective ragged is

rent or worn into tatters, or till the texture is broken.

rotten

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and other infectious agents.
  • If you leave a bin unattended for a few weeks, the rubbish inside will turn rotten .
  • In a state of decay.
  • The floors were damaged and the walls were rotten .
    His mouth stank and his teeth were rotten .
  • Cruel, mean or immoral.
  • That man is a rotten father.
    This rotten policy will create more injustice in this country.
  • Bad or terrible.
  • Why is the weather always rotten in this city?
    It was a rotten idea to take the boat out today.
    She has the flu and feels rotten .

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "rotten" is often applied: wood, food, egg, meat, fruit, tomato, apple, banana, milk, vegetable, stuff, tooth, smell, person, kid, bastard, scoundrel, weather.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • To an extreme degree.
  • That kid is spoilt rotten .
    The girls fancy him something rotten .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    ragged

    English

    (Webster 1913)

    Verb

    (head)
  • (rag)
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Rent or worn into tatters, or till the texture is broken.
  • a ragged coat
    a ragged sail
  • Broken with rough edges; having jags; uneven; rough; jagged.
  • ragged rocks
  • Hence, harsh and disagreeable to the ear; dissonant.
  • * (rfdate) .
  • A ragged noise of mirth.
  • Wearing tattered clothes.
  • a ragged fellow
  • Rough; shaggy; rugged.
  • * (rfdate), .
  • What shepherd owns those ragged sheep?
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=May 19 , author=Paul fletcher , title=Blackpool 1-2 West Ham , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Allardyce's side had led at the break through a Carlton Cole strike but after Thomas Ince - son of former Hammers midfielder Paul - levelled shortly after the restart, the match became increasingly stretched and ragged .}}

    Derived terms

    * ragged lady * raggedly * raggedness * ragged robin * ragged sailor * ragged school

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms