ruffled; ruffling
ˈrə-f(ə-)liŋ 
2
: to erect in or like a ruff : to cause to rise or bristle
a bird ruffling its feathers
3
a
: to flip through
ruffle the pages of a book
b
: shuffle
4
: to make into a ruffle
: to become ruffled
their dispositions ruffle perceptibly—
Life
Life2
: a state or cause of irritation
3
a
: a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge
4
: an unevenness or disturbance of surface : ripple
: a low vibrating drumbeat less loud than a roll
Synonyms
Examples of ruffle in a Sentence
Verb
Her hair was ruffled by the wind.
He ruffled some people with his constant complaining.
Noun (1)
likes lace curtains without ruffles and chintz curtains with ruffles
a spouse's snoring is one ruffle that many couples must eventually come to terms with
Recent Examples on the Web
Kathryn Varn, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Murmur of God between their slick, bent fingers ruffled the hair on the back of my neck.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Ada Tseng, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Vinyl, ruffles, sequins—the red carpets this week were all about bold statements.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ruffle 
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Verb
The decision to go with a site across the bay, rather than at stadiums in Clearwater or Dunedin, ruffled some Pinellas County feathers.
—Kathryn Varn, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Murmur of God between their slick, bent fingers ruffled the hair on the back of my neck.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
There were sheer bodices, sheer ruffles, sheer lace dresses and sheer pantsuits.
—Ada Tseng, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Vinyl, ruffles, sequins—the red carpets this week were all about bold statements.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ruffle
Dictionary Entries Near ruffle
Cite this Entry
“Ruffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruffle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ruffle
1 of 3 verb
ruf·fle
ˈrəf-əl
ruffled; ruffling
ˈrəf-(ə-)liŋ
1
a
: to disturb the smoothness of
2
: to erect (as feathers) in or like a ruff
3
: to make into a ruffle
ruffle
2 of 3 noun1
: a state or cause of irritation
2
a
: a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge
b
ruffle
3 of 3 noun
: a low vibrating drumbeat that is less loud than a roll
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