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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ratty
One of those is a comfy pair of slippers, but not the ratty old ones that hang out by your bedside.
—
Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025
According to Orkin, the pest control service, New York has been ranked as the third rattiest city in the country behind Los Angeles and Chicago.
—Sarah Baniak, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
New York, arguably the most famous ratty city (with its very own rat celebrities), recently required that most city trash be placed in containers with secure lids, not in plastic bags on the street.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 31 Jan. 2025
Even among the rattiest cities identified in the study, Washington, DC, stood out.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratty
Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025
According to Orkin, the pest control service, New York has been ranked as the third rattiest city in the country behind Los Angeles and Chicago.
—Sarah Baniak, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
New York, arguably the most famous ratty city (with its very own rat celebrities), recently required that most city trash be placed in containers with secure lids, not in plastic bags on the street.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 31 Jan. 2025
Even among the rattiest cities identified in the study, Washington, DC, stood out.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratty
Adjective
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From iconic buildings being saved to companies opening new interactive experiences for guests, the repurposing of old warehouses and dilapidated properties has allowed for growth in Louisville's urban areas.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
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Now, as soon as next year, the historic campus will transform into housing with 213 apartments as the city's Department of Metropolitan Development and private developers redevelop dilapidated buildings downtown into residential and commercial spaces.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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On a visit to another small Ok. town, Cox spied a tattered awning that said Country Bird, which was the perfect name for her bakery.—
Gary Stern,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Living under a tattered flag of St. George, the people here have reconstructed some semblance of society by relying on traditional tasks and traditional attitudes.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Despite its self-destructive proclivities, the irritable giant has managed to make, and keep, a friend.—
Robin George Andrews,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
-
Determined to make a clean SPF, Brown says a chemical formula was out of the question (chemical sunscreens are often thought to be unsafe for the coral reef and irritable to sensitive skin types).—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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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
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But its location in the neglected and overgrown space remains a mystery.—
Laura L. Davis,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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What’s a neglected part of your ME—your health, learning, or joy?—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
In-ho rolls down his window and looks into the alley, where a man in ragged clothes is playing ddakji with a woman (Blanchett) in a pristine gray suit.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 June 2025
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The breaks in these branches were more ragged and irregular.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Under 25% Source: Zillow These cities became incredibly overheated during the pandemic, when out-of-state remote workers moved in to find cheaper homes, a more affordable cost of living, and a good quality of life.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
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Xfinity offers some of the cheapest plans available in Nashville, but prices may go up once the promotional period ends.—
Kara McGinley,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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AVs also struggle with wet, faded and low-contrast markings.—
Mark Pittman,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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Follow with a moisture-rich conditioner or deep treatment: To prevent your wig from feeling dry and faded, moisturizing will restore its luster, softness, and elasticity.—
Essence,
Essence,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ratty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratty. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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