Rag vs. Sag: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson & Janet White || Updated on May 20, 2024
A rag is a piece of old, often torn cloth, used for cleaning or wiping, whereas sag refers to a downward droop or decline, typically in terms of posture or structures.
Key Differences
A rag is typically an old piece of cloth used for cleaning, wiping, or polishing. It is often made from recycled fabric or old clothing. On the other hand, sag describes a downward droop or a loss of firmness, often seen in structures or posture.
Rags are valued for their practicality and reusability in cleaning and maintenance tasks. They are essential in various settings, from homes to workshops. Sag, conversely, is generally considered undesirable, indicating a decline or weakening. Structural sag can suggest a need for repair or reinforcement, while sagging posture can indicate poor health or low spirits.
While rags are physical objects used for specific functions, sag is a condition or state affecting objects or people. Both terms convey different aspects of wear and utility, but they occupy distinct roles in language and context.
In terms of linguistic usage, "rag" functions as a noun, whereas "sag" can serve as both a noun and a verb, describing the action of drooping or the state of being drooped.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Old piece of cloth for cleaning
Downward droop or decline
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Usage
Noun
Noun and verb
Context
Household and maintenance tasks
Structural integrity and posture
Connotation
Practical and useful
Undesirable and needing repair
Physicality
Tangible item
Condition or state
Rag and Sag Definitions
Rag
Informal term for newspaper.
The local rag published an interesting article today.
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Sag
Decline in firmness.
Her shoulders sagged after a long day.
Rag
Old or scrap fabric piece.
She cut the old shirt into rags for cleaning.
Sag
Downward droop.
The old couch began to sag in the middle.
Rag
A scrap of cloth.
Sag
To sink, droop, or settle from pressure or weight.
Rag
A piece of cloth used for cleaning, washing, or dusting.
Sag
To lose vigor, firmness, or resilience
My spirits sagged after I had been rejected for the job.
Rag
Rags Threadbare or tattered clothing.
Sag
To decline, as in value or price
Stock prices sagged after a short rally.
Rag
Cloth converted to pulp for making paper.
Sag
(Nautical) To drift to leeward.
Rag
A scrap; a fragment.
Sag
To wear one's pants with the waist below the hips, so that one's underwear is visible.
Rag
(Slang) A newspaper, especially one specializing in sensationalism or gossip.
Sag
To cause to sag.
Rag
The stringy central portion and membranous walls of a citrus fruit.
Sag
The act or an instance of sagging.
Rag
A practical joke; a prank.
Sag
The degree or extent to which something sags.
Rag
A roofing slate with one rough surface.
Sag
A sagging or drooping part or area
Tried to brush out the paint sags.
Rag
Chiefly British A coarsely textured rock.
Sag
A sunken area of land; a depression.
Rag
A piece written in ragtime.
Sag
A sagging area; a depression.
Rag
To criticize or scold (someone).
Sag
A decline, as in monetary value.
Rag
To criticize or complain about (something).
Sag
(Nautical) A drift to leeward.
Rag
To tease or taunt (someone).
Sag
The state of sinking or bending; a droop.
Rag
Chiefly British To play a joke on.
Sag
The difference in elevation of a wire, cable, chain or rope suspended between two consecutive points.
Rag
(Sports) In ice hockey, to maintain possession of (the puck) by outmaneuvering opposing players, especially so as to kill a penalty.
Sag
The difference in height or depth between the vertex and the rim of a curved surface, specifically used for optical elements such as a mirror or lens.
Rag
To compose or play (a piece) in ragtime.
Sag
To sink, in the middle, by its weight or under applied pressure, below a horizontal line or plane.
A line or cable supported by its ends sags, even if it is tightly drawn.
The floor of a room sags.
Her once firm bosom began to sag in her thirties.
Rag
(in the plural) Tattered clothes.
Sag
(by extension) To lean, give way, or settle from a vertical position.
A building may sag one way or another.
The door sags on its hinges.
Rag
A piece of old cloth, especially one used for cleaning, patching, etc.; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred or tatter.
Sag
(figuratively) To lose firmness, elasticity, vigor, or a thriving state; to sink; to droop; to flag; to bend; to yield, as the mind or spirits, under the pressure of care, trouble, doubt, or the like; to be unsettled or unbalanced.
Rag
A shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin.
Sag
To loiter in walking; to idle along; to drag or droop heavily.
Rag
A ragged edge in metalworking.
Sag
(transitive) To cause to bend or give way; to load.
Rag
A sail, or any piece of canvas.
Sag
(informal) To wear one's trousers so that their top is well below the waist.
Rag
Sanitary napkins, pads, or other materials used to absorb menstrual discharge.
Sag
To pull down someone else's pants.
Rag
A newspaper or magazine, especially one whose journalism is considered to be of poor quality.
Fish wrap
Sag
To sink, in the middle, by its weight or under applied pressure, below a horizontal line or plane; as, a line or cable supported by its ends sags, though tightly drawn; the floor of a room sags; hence, to lean, give way, or settle from a vertical position; as, a building may sag one way or another; a door sags on its hinges.
Rag
(poker) A poor, low-ranking kicker.
I have ace-four on my hand. In other words, I have ace-rag.
Sag
Fig.: To lose firmness or elasticity; to sink; to droop; to flag; to bend; to yield, as the mind or spirits, under the pressure of care, trouble, doubt, or the like; to be unsettled or unbalanced.
The mind I sway by, and the heart I bear,Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.
Rag
A curtain of various kinds.
Sag
To loiter in walking; to idle along; to drag or droop heavily.
Rag
(dated) A person suffering from exhaustion or lack of energy.
Sag
To cause to bend or give way; to load.
Rag
A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture; ragstone.
Sag
State of sinking or bending; sagging.
Rag
(dated) A prank or practical joke.
Sag
A shape that sags;
There was a sag in the chair seat
Rag
A society run by university students for the purpose of charitable fundraising.
Sag
Droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
Rag
An informal dance party featuring music played by African-American string bands.
Sag
Cause to sag;
The children sagged their bottoms down even more comfortably
Rag
A ragtime song, dance or piece of music.
Sag
To droop or sink.
The cake started to sag as it cooled.
Rag
(transitive) To decorate (a wall, etc.) by applying paint with a rag.
Sag
Structural weakness.
The roof sagged under the weight of the snow.
Rag
(intransitive) To become tattered.
Sag
Physical or metaphorical decline.
His spirits sagged when he heard the news.
Rag
To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.
Rag
To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.
Rag
To scold or tell off; to torment; to banter.
Rag
To drive a car or another vehicle in a hard, fast or unsympathetic manner.
Rag
To tease or torment, especially at a university; to bully, to haze.
Rag
To play or compose (a piece, melody, etc.) in syncopated time.
Rag
To dance to ragtime music.
Rag
To add syncopation (to a tune) and thereby make it appropriate for a ragtime song.
Rag
To scold or rail at; to rate; to tease; to torment; to banter.
Rag
To become tattered.
Rag
To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.
Rag
To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.
Rag
To play or compose (a piece, melody, etc.) in syncopated time.
Rag
To dance to ragtime music, esp. in some manner considered indecorous.
Rag
A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred; a tatter; a fragment.
Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tossed,And fluttered into rags.
Not having otherwise any rag of legality to cover the shame of their cruelty.
Rag
Hence, mean or tattered attire; worn-out dress.
And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.
Rag
A shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin.
The other zealous rag is the compositor.
Upon the proclamation, they all came in, both tag and rag.
Rag
A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture.
Rag
A ragged edge.
Rag
A sail, or any piece of canvas.
Our ship was a clipper with every rag set.
Rag
A small piece of cloth or paper
Rag
A week at British universities during which side-shows and processions of floats are organized to raise money for charities
Rag
Music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano)
Rag
Newspaper with half-size pages
Rag
A boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)
Rag
Treat cruelly;
The children tormented the stuttering teacher
Rag
Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations;
Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me
It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves
Rag
Play in ragtime;
Rag that old tune
Rag
Harass with persistent criticism or carping;
The children teased the new teacher
Don't ride me so hard over my failure
His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie
Rag
Censure severely or angrily;
The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car
The deputy ragged the Prime Minister
The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup
Rag
Break into lumps before sorting;
Rag ore
Rag
Old piece of cloth.
She used a rag to wipe the dust off the table.
Rag
Torn or worn-out fabric.
The ragged edges of his jeans were frayed.
Rag
Cloth used in cleaning.
The mechanic used a rag to clean his hands.
FAQs
Can "rag" have other meanings?
Yes, it can also refer to a newspaper or a scrap piece of fabric.
What is a rag?
A rag is an old piece of cloth often used for cleaning or wiping surfaces.
What does sag mean?
Sag refers to a downward droop or decline in firmness or strength.
In what contexts can sag be used?
It can describe physical structures, such as a sagging roof, or posture, such as sagging shoulders.
Can rags be repurposed?
Yes, rags are often made from recycled old clothing or fabric.
Is sag always negative?
Generally, yes, as it indicates a decline or weakening.
What materials are rags typically made from?
Rags are usually made from cotton, old clothing, or other absorbent fabrics.
Can sag be a verb?
Yes, sag can be used as a verb to describe the action of drooping or sinking.
How is a rag typically used?
Rags are used for household cleaning, polishing, and maintenance tasks.
How do you prevent a structure from sagging?
Regular maintenance, proper support, and using quality materials can help prevent sagging.
Can sag be temporary?
Yes, sagging can be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause and intervention.
What are common uses for rags?
Common uses include dusting, cleaning spills, and polishing surfaces.
Is sag used in any idiomatic expressions?
Yes, such as "sagging spirits" to describe low morale.
Do rags come in different sizes?
Yes, rags can come in various sizes depending on their intended use.
What is the difference between a rag and a sag?
A rag is a physical cloth used for cleaning, while sag refers to a condition of drooping or decline.
Can sag be repaired?
Structural sag can often be repaired through reinforcement or replacement.
Are rags disposable?
Some rags are disposable, while others can be washed and reused.
Can sag refer to emotions?
Yes, sag can describe a decline in spirits or morale.
What causes a structure to sag?
Structural sag can be caused by wear and tear, heavy loads, or poor construction.
Are there any synonyms for rag?
Synonyms include cloth, scrap, and fabric piece.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
Co-written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
