ratty
adjective
rat·ty ˈra-tē 
rattier; rattiest
1
a
: infested with rats
b
: of, relating to, or suggestive of a rat
2
: shabby, unkempt
a ratty brown overcoat
John Lardner
John Lardner3
a
: despicable, treacherous
b
: irritable
feeling ratty as hell Richard Bissell
Richard Bissell
Synonyms
- beat-up
- bombed-out
- dilapidated
- dog-eared
- down-at-the-heels
- down-at-heel
- down-at-the-heel
- down-at-heels
- dumpy
- grungy
- mangy
- mean
- miserable
- moth-eaten
- neglected
- run-down
- scrubby
- scruffy
- seedy
- shabby
- sleazy
- tacky
- tatterdemalion
- tatty
- threadbare
- timeworn
- tumbledown
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Those shoes are getting pretty ratty. some ratty old magazines were the only reading material in the mountaintop cabin
Recent Examples on the Web Your own eyes will adjust to size up her lurking silhouette: two ratty ears, candy-corn teeth, a loaf of a body, and a spindly tail behind her. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 But this isn't some ratty stockpile of last season's clothing collections. Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 15 July 2022 He's been living in his ratty old sweats all year, so consider these Champion ones an overdue upgrade. Cameron Jenkins, Good Housekeeping, 20 Apr. 2022 For its set design, Backyard Theater Ensemble goes with a mix of some ratty, comfy furniture and a hipster wall hanging, and that’s it. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2022 Nearly $2 billion in new development is bringing homes, offices, shops, and parks to a ratty part of the city. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 12 Mar. 2022 In the mid-70s, punks dressed up their anti-establishment aggression in painted, studded leather jackets and ratty band shirts. New York Times, 23 Feb. 2022 Ask everyone to launder the goods first—and remind them to donate only clothing of a quality that a secondhand store would purchase; no ratty stuff. Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2021 My late grandfather spent most of his weekends holed up in his study—a sunken room, adorned with a ratty Chesterfield sofa and posters from various international chess championships—listening to opera. The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2021 See More
Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 But this isn't some ratty stockpile of last season's clothing collections. Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 15 July 2022 He's been living in his ratty old sweats all year, so consider these Champion ones an overdue upgrade. Cameron Jenkins, Good Housekeeping, 20 Apr. 2022 For its set design, Backyard Theater Ensemble goes with a mix of some ratty, comfy furniture and a hipster wall hanging, and that’s it. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2022 Nearly $2 billion in new development is bringing homes, offices, shops, and parks to a ratty part of the city. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 12 Mar. 2022 In the mid-70s, punks dressed up their anti-establishment aggression in painted, studded leather jackets and ratty band shirts. New York Times, 23 Feb. 2022 Ask everyone to launder the goods first—and remind them to donate only clothing of a quality that a secondhand store would purchase; no ratty stuff. Outside Online, 3 Dec. 2021 My late grandfather spent most of his weekends holed up in his study—a sunken room, adorned with a ratty Chesterfield sofa and posters from various international chess championships—listening to opera. The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
ratty
adjective
rat·ty ˈra-tē
rattier; rattiest
: in bad condition : shabby
a ratty old sweater
ratty
adjective
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
- dilapidated
- neglected
- tatty
- tattered
- scruffy
- mangy
- shabby
- dumpy
- abandoned
- ragged
- tired
- miserable
- grungy
- threadbare
- scrubby
- tumbledown
- desolate
- tacky
- seedy
- beat-up
- timeworn
- tatterdemalion
- down-at-heel
- dog-eared
- sleazy
- ruined
- moth-eaten
- broken
- down-at-the-heels
- run-down
- damaged
- unkept
- bombed-out
- down-at-the-heel
- down-at-heels
- dingy
- mean
- decrepit
- wrecked
- gone to seed
- bedraggled
- godforsaken
- forlorn
- deteriorated
- rickety
- decaying
- ramshackle
- deteriorating
- worn-out
- destroyed
- broken-down
- rattletrap
- rackety
- injured
- hurt
- impaired
- harmed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- new
- fresh
- maintained
- brand-new
- spiffy
- mended
- patched
- reconstructed
- rebuilt
- spruce
- kept-up
- cared-for
- smart
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
- tattered
- ragged
- faded
- frayed
- raggedy
- shabby
- seedy
- threadbare
- scruffy
- worn-out
- dingy
- dilapidated
- shredded
- dowdy
- mangy
- holey
- decrepit
- tatterdemalion
- lacerated
- patchy
- grungy
- scuzzy
- tacky
- dog-eared
- broken-down
- lacerate
- moth-eaten
- run-down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unused
- new
- brand-new
- spic-and-span
- spick-and-span
3
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed I get pretty ratty after hours of dealing with demanding customers Synonyms & Similar Words
- irritable
- crotchety
- grouchy
- fiery
- grumpy
- petulant
- crabby
- irascible
- peevish
- stuffy
- raspy
- snappish
- waspish
- cranky
- snarky
- testy
- snippy
- cross
- prickly
- snarly
- pettish
- short
- cantankerous
- ornery
- choleric
- surly
- perverse
- curmudgeonly
- bilious
- dyspeptic
- snippety
- querulous
- sensitive
- short-tempered
- snappy
- off-colored
- sullen
- disagreeable
- passionate
- sulky
- truculent
- out of humor
- fretful
- out of sorts
- contentious
- scrappy
- belligerent
- pugnacious
- bellicose
- pouty
- tetchy
- huffy
- ill-tempered
- quick-tempered
- fractious
- off-color
- argumentative
- combative
- cross-grained
- ill-humored
- bearish
- quarrelsome
- ill-natured
- disputatious
- touchy
- thin-skinned
- hot-blooded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- friendly
- sweet
- affable
- gregarious
- amiable
- companionable
- cordial
- genial
- outgoing
- extroverted
- sociable
- agreeable
- extraverted
- carefree
- easygoing
- relaxed
- stoic
- good-natured
- stoical
- tolerant
- good-tempered
- uncomplaining
- patient
- well-disposed
- obliging
- happy-go-lucky
- understanding
- long-suffering
- forbearing
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
- lame
- pitiful
- dirty
- cheap
- wretched
- nasty
- grubby
- disgusting
- scabby
- mean
- hateful
- sneaking
- vile
- cruddy
- lousy
- sorry
- deplorable
- contemptible
- pitiable
- despicable
- scurvy
- scummy
- paltry
- shabby
- loathsome
- odious
- abominable
- disreputable
- repulsive
- squalid
- shameful
- revolting
- disgraceful
- repugnant
- detestable
- execrable
- reptilian
- abhorrent
- sordid
- ignominious
- craven
- ignoble
- dishonorable
- discreditable
- condemnable
- base
- cowardly
- dastardly
- reprehensible
- unscrupulous
- unprincipled
- revulsive
- unethical
- low
- reproachable
- censurable
- blamable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- admirable
- creditable
- meritorious
- laudable
- praiseworthy
- upright
- redoubtable
- noble
- good
- reputable
- commendable
- honorable
- scrupulous
- honest
- right
- moral
- righteous
- virtuous
- ethical
- high-minded
- principled
- right-minded
- siccest
- siccing
- siccing on
- siccing on someone or something
- siccing something on
- siccing something on someone or something
- sice
- Sicel
- Siceliot
- sicer
- sices
- sicest
- Sichomovi
- sichomovis
- sicht
- sichuan
- Sichuan
- sichuans
- sicilia
- siciliae
- sicilian
- Sicilian circle
- Sicilian octave
- Sicilian sumac
- Sicilian umber