ramshackle
ramshackle
Definition
ram·shackle (ram′s̸hak′əl)
adjective
loose and rickety; likely to fall to pieces; shaky a ramshackle old building
Etymology: back-form. < ramshackled, for earlier ransackled, pp. of ransackle, freq. of ransack
ramshackle
Synonyms
ramshackle
Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- building: Near the door of the most ramshackle of the buildings were what appeared to be bloody hand prints.
Modifies a noun
- hut: In a ramshackle hut on the fringes of the City toiled a boy of no more than ten cycles.
- charm: Echo The World ( We Live In ) has a ramshackle charm, off-kilter melodies and delightfully crisp vocals abound.
- affair: There is a rather ramshackle affair about twenty yards away at platform 3b that no one seems to own.
- cottage: The newlywed Munroes purchase a rundown, ramshackle cottage and plan to fix it up themselves, primarily to escape her meddling father.
- building: At the end of the track we came to a small ramshackle building, the research center.
- house: In a ramshackle old house the wind becomes a constant, unsettling moan beyond the walls.
Modifying Another Word
- rather: There is a rather ramshackle affair about twenty yards away at platform 3b that no one seems to own.
- slightly: It has a slightly ramshackle atmosphere, which adds to the charm.
- somewhat: During the trial, the somewhat ramshackle nature of the Halifax's security procedures came to light.
- very: The furniture was very ramshackle, and the bed, a large old-fashioned wooden one, with a festooned tent or awning overhanging it.
- totally: If Hitler had known what was going on, Mr. Irving writes, he would have shaped up a " totally ramshackle operation.
- so: Winston Spencer Castle Road, NW1 Camden planning is so ramshackle these days. They probably think they can get away with anything.
