1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
some ratty old magazines were the only reading material in the mountaintop cabin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
can I use this ratty old T-shirt to wipe up some paint?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
I get pretty ratty after hours of dealing with demanding customers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that's a ratty way to treat an old friend who's fallen on hard times
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 ratty
Even among the rattiest cities identified in the study, Washington, DC, stood out.
—
Laura Paddison, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
What our gifter says: This is the perfect upgrade for the grandad who’s been carrying the same ratty wallet since the ’90s.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024
The Best Pajamas for Lounging and Sleeping Give your ratty old T-shirt and sweats the night off.
—Sarah Madaus, SELF, 22 Oct. 2024
The Best Pajamas for Lounging and Sleeping Give your ratty old T-shirt and sweats the night off.
17 of the Highest Rated Sheet Sets on Amazon Under $40
Snuggle up.
—Malia Griggs, SELF, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ratty
Laura Paddison, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
What our gifter says: This is the perfect upgrade for the grandad who’s been carrying the same ratty wallet since the ’90s.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024
The Best Pajamas for Lounging and Sleeping Give your ratty old T-shirt and sweats the night off.
—Sarah Madaus, SELF, 22 Oct. 2024
The Best Pajamas for Lounging and Sleeping Give your ratty old T-shirt and sweats the night off.
17 of the Highest Rated Sheet Sets on Amazon Under $40
Snuggle up.
—Malia Griggs, SELF, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ratty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratty
Adjective
-
Located inside an early 20th-century building, this dilapidated space has been given a new lease on life by the Parisian interior designer.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Rows of young men in camouflage report for roll call in the shadow of dilapidated, battle-scarred buildings.—
Dominique Soguel,
Christian Science Monitor,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The other traditional party, the Liberal Party, has splintered between those who remain loyal to Zelaya and those who led the coup, including Mauricio Villeda, the presidential candidate who leads a tattered vestige of his party.—
Dana Frank,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Nov. 2013
-
What if standing up to Trump is the very thing that saves the Liberal Party, and Trudeau’s tattered legacy?—
Talib Visram,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
And even in what was a stilted match played in an increasingly irritable atmosphere, Rogers and Tielemans delivered with an assist each.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
This stretch can worsen pain in people with back pain, very tight hamstrings, or irritable nerves.—
Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
-
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
-
By upcycling a neglected garment, Hirsch hopes to give someone the chance to experience the beauty and craftsmanship that goes into creating a piece.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Some who have tolerated a static image on a neglected part of their screen may not be as accepting of more distracting ad formats.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Cocker was famous for his ragged, one-of-a-kind covers of other acts’ famous songs, with Joel comparing the late singer to such legendary song interpreters as Frank Sinatra.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Grand Canyon didn’t do enough to punish Maryland for its ragged start.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Their tech lets clothing companies show off a wide variety of sizes and styles—and for a whole lot cheaper.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
In Flacco and Pickett, the Browns have two veteran backups on cheap contracts signed only for 2025.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Like Napoleon’s Uncle Rico, who dwells on his long-ago high-school-football days, Garrett is living in the faded aura of past glory: in his case, a 1989 video-game championship.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
-
As thousands of migrants cycled through its faded lobby, the Roosevelt turned into a lightning rod in the country’s immigration debate: both as a reminder of the depth of the crisis and as shorthand for critics opposed to the expenditure of taxpayer money on migrants.—
Luis Ferré-Sadurní,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ratty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratty. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share