adjective

jagged

JAG-id/ˈdʒæɡɪd/

Having a sharply uneven or irregular form.

The stone slab's jagged edge has sharp points and uneven notches.

A single broken slab of gray stone with an unmistakably jagged edge: irregular sharp points alternating with deep, uneven notches.

Etymology

jaggMiddle Englishto notch or cut unevenly

From a verb meaning to notch or cut unevenly, jagged first described garments with regular toothed edges. The meaning broadened to irregularly cut edges, giving the modern image of a rough outline with sharp points.

In context

Wild Lives9:01

jagged spines of rock that seem to divide the sky from the earth

THE GREAT MIGRATION IN ALASKA | The Epic March of the Arctic Caribou – Wildlife Documentary

More examples

A jagged crack runs across the kitchen tile.
The mountains form a jagged outline against the sky.
The graph's jagged line shows how sharply prices change.

Forms

jagged · more jagged · most jagged

jaggedness noun — The quality of having sharply uneven forms.

jaggedly adverb — In a sharply uneven or irregular way.

Similar words

uneven: Uneven covers any lack of smoothness, not necessarily sharp edges.
irregular: Irregular emphasizes departures from a regular shape, spacing, or pattern.
serrated: Serrated describes a row of teeth, often evenly spaced.