Illustration of ragweed
: any of various chiefly North American weedy composite herbs (genus Ambrosia) that produce highly allergenic pollen
Examples of ragweed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tree pollen is the first culprit to start causing symptoms, followed by grass pollination later in the spring and summer and ragweed in the late summer and fall.
—
Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Spring allergies are usually triggered by tree and grass pollen, while fall allergies are often caused by ragweed.
—Trisha Easto, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Common types are crabgrass, goosegrass, giant foxtail, smooth pigweed, common lambs quarters, purslane, galinsoga, common ragweed, and tall morning glory.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Weed pollen — especially ragweed — is another major allergy trigger, affecting about one in seven people, the foundation said.
—Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026
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Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Spring allergies are usually triggered by tree and grass pollen, while fall allergies are often caused by ragweed.
—Trisha Easto, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Common types are crabgrass, goosegrass, giant foxtail, smooth pigweed, common lambs quarters, purslane, galinsoga, common ragweed, and tall morning glory.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Weed pollen — especially ragweed — is another major allergy trigger, affecting about one in seven people, the foundation said.
—Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ragweed
Cite this Entry
“Ragweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ragweed. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ragweed
noun
rag·weed
ˈrag-ˌwēd 
: any of various chiefly North American weedy herbs related to the daisies and producing pollen irritating to the eyes and noses of some persons
Medical Definition
ragweed
noun
rag·weed
ˈrag-ˌwēd
: any of various chiefly North American weedy herbaceous plants comprising the genus Ambrosia and producing highly allergenic pollen responsible for much hay fever and asthma: as
a
: an annual weed (A. artemisiifolia) with finely divided foliage that is common on open or cultivated ground in much of North America
b
: a coarse annual (A. trifida) with some or all of the leaves usually deeply and palmately 3-cleft or 5-cleft
called also great ragweed
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