ruffleverb
uk/ˈrʌf.əl/us/ˈrʌf.əl/[ T ] to touch or move something smooth so that it is not even:
She affectionately ruffled his hair with her hand as she passed.
The birds ruffled their feathers (up) in alarm.
[ T often passive ] to annoy or upset someone, or to make someone very nervous:
He's easily ruffled by criticism.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making things more or less smooth or straight
- bunch
- bunch (sth) up
- coarsen
- collapse
- creased
- crinkle
- crumple
- fold
- furl
- pucker
- pumice stone
- roll sth up
- roughen
- sand
- sleek
- sleek back/down
- smooth
- steady
- straighten
- straighten up
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Making people sad, shocked and upset
Idiom(s)
ruffle sb's feathers
rufflenoun [ C ]
uk/ˈrʌf.əl/us/ˈrʌf.əl/a series of small folds made in a piece of cloth or sewn onto it, as decoration
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Style & appearance of clothes
- -sleeved
- backless
- baggy
- bespoke
- black tie
- bootcut
- half-sleeve
- hang
- ill-fitting
- knitted
- low-cut
- preppy
- ruck
- scantily
- scoop-neck
- sequin
- skintight
- snug
- tweedy
- wraparound
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