adj · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈɹæmˌʃæk.əl/
rămʹshăk'əl
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R AE1 M SH AE2 K AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
In disrepair or disorder; poorly maintained; lacking upkeep, usually of buildings or vehicles.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They stayed in a ramshackle cabin on the beach.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Badly or carelessly organized.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To ransack.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
First attested in 1830, a back-formation from ramshackled, from ransackled, past participle of ransackle (“to ransack”), frequentative of Middle English ransaken (“to pillage”).
Across languages
Translations
37 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
разнебитен
(raznebiten)
— in disrepair or disorder
Bulgarian:
паянтов
(pajantov)
— in disrepair or disorder
Catalan:
ruïnós
— in disrepair or disorder
Chinese Mandarin:
破舊的 /破旧的
(pòjiù de)
— in disrepair or disorder
Chinese Mandarin:
破敗的 /破败的
(pòbài de)
— in disrepair or disorder
Chinese Mandarin:
毀壞的 /毁坏的
(huǐhuài de)
— in disrepair or disorder
Czech:
zchátralý
— in disrepair or disorder
Czech:
polorozpadlý
— in disrepair or disorder
Dutch:
bouwvallig
— in disrepair or disorder
Dutch:
gammel
— in disrepair or disorder
Finnish:
ränsistynyt
— in disrepair or disorder
Finnish:
rähjäinen
— in disrepair or disorder
Finnish:
rämä
— in disrepair or disorder
French:
délabré
— in disrepair or disorder
German:
baufällig
— in disrepair or disorder
German:
klapprig
— in disrepair or disorder
German:
marode
— in disrepair or disorder
Hungarian:
rozoga
— in disrepair or disorder
Hungarian:
rozzant
— in disrepair or disorder
Italian:
diroccante
— in disrepair or disorder
Italian:
traballante
— in disrepair or disorder
Italian:
pericolante
— in disrepair or disorder
Italian:
cadente
— in disrepair or disorder
Italian:
sgangherato
— in disrepair or disorder
Italian:
malandato
— in disrepair or disorder
Japanese:
いやしい
(iyashii)
— in disrepair or disorder
Māori:
karukaru
— in disrepair or disorder
Norwegian Bokmål:
falleferdig
— in disrepair or disorder
Norwegian Nynorsk:
falleferdig
— in disrepair or disorder
Persian:
لکنتی
(lakanti)
— in disrepair or disorder
Polish:
rozpadający się
— in disrepair or disorder
Polish:
rozklekotany
— in disrepair or disorder
Portuguese:
malcuidado
— in disrepair or disorder
Russian:
разваливающийся
(razvalivajuščijsja)
— in disrepair or disorder
Russian:
ве́тхий
(vétxij)
— in disrepair or disorder
Ukrainian:
напівзруйнований
(napivzrujnovanyj)
— in disrepair or disorder
Ukrainian:
напіврозвалений
(napivrozvalenyj)
— in disrepair or disorder
